Black2Nature visits Honiton Habitat Bank
Black2Nature is a fantastic charity that gives Visible Minority Ethnic young people opportunities to access nature – and we recently had the pleasure of hosting a group at our Honiton Habitat Bank in Devon.
At Environment Bank, we aim to promote equal access to nature for all in recognition of the fantastic physical, emotional, and mental benefits that come with visiting the outdoors. We’re particularly mindful of supporting access to nature for groups of people less likely to have these opportunities.
Our recent collaboration with Black2Nature was a fantastic way for us to invite a group of young people to visit one of our Habitat Banks and provide education about the environment to get them engaged and inspired about the natural world.
Who are Black2Nature?
Black2Nature is a Bristol-based charity that works with Visible Minority Ethnic young people who live in inner city areas of deprivation – providing invaluable opportunities to experience and engage with nature.
Spending time in nature has been proven to have a vast range of health benefits – such as reducing stress, promoting mental and physical health, and even enhancing cognitive function. Every young person should have equal access to nature and be able to reap these benefits – which is why Black2Nature’s mission is so important.
Black2Nature’s visit to Honiton Habitat Bank
Earlier this month, we worked with Black2Nature to bring a group of fifteen young people to our Honiton Habitat Bank in East Devon. This is a particularly exciting site, home to notable wildlife species such as beavers and otters – so it was a great opportunity for the group to see nature restoration at work.
The day was split up across different hands-on activities – including a plant identification trail, pond dipping, and nature photography exercise. We foraged nettles and wild garlic, caught sightings of fish in the river, and even found some evidence of the site’s beavers!
At the end of the day, we held a discussion with the group about the day – and there was tangible excitement and curiosity in the room. We all shared our findings, asked questions, and learned more about the amazing wildlife at Honiton Habitat Bank.
Nature has feelings as well and if you tear down trees and if you ruin plants or if you kill bugs, then our world is slowly being destroyed.
Hannah, 11 y/o
Why this visit was so important
At Environment Bank, we know how important it is to connect young people with nature and foster curiosity about the environment. Everyone should have equal access to nature and the opportunity to engage with the outdoors – and we’re so grateful to have helped Black2Nature with their mission.
Our Habitat Banks are funded through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) policy, supporting essential development while also restoring nature across our national network of almost fifty Habitat Banks. This visit is a fantastic example of how environmental policy can channel funding into large-scale nature projects, where we can provide amazing opportunities for local communities to engage with the environment.
We have a long-standing relationship with Black2Nature, with our staff raising over £2,000 for the charity last year on our annual company hike. It was great to collaborate with Black2Nature again for this site visit – and we’re looking forward to lots more visits to come!
If you’re part of a school, charity, or organisation and you’d like to arrange a visit to one of our Habitat Banks – or arrange a talk from one of our biodiversity experts – please get in touch.