City of Trees

For the preparation of this Inspirational Package, we conducted a survey and collected over 130 results from across Europe. Respondents reported the lack of materials to teach about forests and trees; the lack of green schoolyards and general difficulty in teaching youth in the outdoors. It became clear to us that the importance of forests and the benefits of single trees in the cities are still too vaguely understood by the urban inhabitants, students, and teachers alike. How then do we make sure we manage to raise awareness on the importance of urban trees and forests for our own survival and that of the planet? How do we manage to bring up children and youth who will grow up to be active citizens who conserve and increase trees in the city? Recent studies have revealed that going beyond activities that simply engage people with nature through knowledge and identification is needed. Our connection to nature needs to be reinforced. An individual’s connection with nature may not only increase their overall wellbeing, but it can also influence their level of engagement in pro-environmental behaviors. Climate change and the pandemic have got many of us, including teens, suffering from anxiety. Strengthening our bond with nature can alleviate anxiety and empower to turn fear into positive action to fighting climate change, especially when coupled with concrete tools and activities to do so. Five pathways to increased nature connection have been defined by University of Derby and these pathways provide a route for people to develop a new relationship with the natural world, a relationship which can move beyond utility and control, knowledge and identification. The 5 pathways (Meaning, Compassion, Senses, Emotion and Beauty) are illustrated on the next page. In this package we have marked each lessons with a selection of pathways that at least can be identified in the lesson. We invite you to reflect upon each pathway at the end of each lesson together with students.