The Blackdown Hills team were delighted to be able to use this funding to help address major inequalities in access to nature.

The Generation Green programme is designed to target young people from deprived backgrounds, who may never have spent time in green and blue spaces before.

The Blackdown Hills approached Young Carers as there are often multiple stacked factors which mean their access to nature is challenged.

• Economic disadvantage: Young carers are often from low-income households lacking resources to be able to pay for care
• Household composition: Common in single-parent homes where support options are limited
  
• Health and disability: The children care for family members and are more likely than their peers to have their own health challenges, stress and mental health risks
• Social isolation and education: Caregiving duties can lead to social isolation and disrupted education, affecting attendance, academic performance and reduced access to many ‘mainstream’ funding or activity opportunities
• Gender and ethnic minorities: Slightly higher prevalence among girls and some ethnic minority groups due to cultural caregiving norms

The Blackdown Hills team worked with Wildside, a nature connection and outdoor activity space in Madford, a village in the Blackdown Hills to deliver three sessions:

• Two sessions specifically for homeschooled young carers (during term time as they wouldn’t be missing school)
• One session for young carers who attend school (during half term as these young carers often miss school so we didn’t want to be another reason to miss school)

In order to ensure the children were able to access the experience, Devon Young Carers, Wildside and Heritage Arts & People provided additional support where it was needed: additional clothing and footwear, transport etc.

Each session at Wildside began around the campfire, providing a welcoming and calming space for the children to settle in, get to know each other, and become familiar with the site. For some, this was a completely new experience, and the structured yet relaxed start helped to ease any initial apprehension.

While gathered around the fire, the children engaged in activities such as roasting marshmallows or baking apples with sugar and cinnamon. They also observed a series of interactive science demonstrations, such as using red cabbage water as pH indicator. Once everyone was comfortable, the group moved into the woodland area to participate in a variety of nature-based activities.

These activities included lying on the forest floor to observe the sky, taking part in a scavenger hunt, and engaging in sensory challenges such as being blindfolded and guided through the woodland. In one exercise, children felt the texture of a tree while blindfolded and then attempted to locate the same tree afterward. Traditional outdoor games like hide-and-seek and tree climbing were also popular, along with the highlight of the session—the zip wire. This exhilarating activity allowed children to glide through the forest canopy, providing both excitement and a sense of achievement. While some children enthusiastically explored their surroundings, others were more reserved, opting to engage through drawing rather than direct tactile interaction.

Following a morning of nature-based activities that fostered connection and engagement, the group returned to the campfire for a freshly prepared lunch. The meal, provided by Wildside, included locally sourced sausages, seasonal vegetables, and homemade cake. The afternoon focused on hands-on farm tasks, such as moving hay bales, grooming and walking Shetland ponies, feeding livestock, and handling rabbits. Each activity was carefully tailored to the needs of the children, ensuring a supportive and accessible environment that encouraged meaningful engagement with nature.

While some children embraced the activities immediately, others required patient encouragement and skilled guidance from practitioners to build confidence and participate fully. The impact of these sessions was evident, not only in the enjoyment of the children but also in the social connections formed.

As one child poignantly said: “I made a friend today. I have not had a friend in a very long time.”

Feedback from a parent (care receiver):

“A had the best time last Thursday, she said she wanted the experience to last longer and how lovely the activity leaders were. A felt really safe and comfortable in everyone’s presence which is wonderful as she felt really anxious prior to meeting you all last Thursday.

I haven’t seen A so overjoyed for a long time she was so happy and loved learning about nature, handling the animals and being with the other young carers.

Thank you very, very much indeed for inviting A to participate in the group it is appreciated more than you can possibly imagine”

Feedback from Devon Young Carers staff:

“A few of our young carers that attended do not access anything else outside of young carers so these two sessions would have given them the chance to meet new people and take part in some tasks that they have either never done or not done for a very long time.”

“One young carer does not spend any time with their peers and only spends time with their Mum so any activity via young carers is a chance to socialise and have fun and forget their caring role for a few hours which is vital for their wellbeing and health.”

“This trip was another young carer’s first trip and they had such a positive experience that they have asked if they can be added to future activities. This is a huge step as this young carer originally decided they were too anxious to take part in any group activities but once they heard about the Wildside trip they decided to give it a go and its given them the confidence to join our future trips.”

The project was incredibly rewarding for not only the young carers, but for all of us involved. We hope that there will be future funding to support Generation Green projects as there is a large need for this support, and we have only just ‘scratched the surface’ in terms of delivery for disadvantaged groups within the Blackdown Hills.