Stepping Stones to Nature
Stepping Stones to Nature supports children to grow up well through a connection with nature and their local National Park.
Through a proven programme of sensory, nature-based and curriculum-enriching activities, the programme is tailored to support children’s health, development and learning.
It deepens children’s connection with nature and their local National Park, while building core knowledge and skills, sparking creativity and curiosity, supporting confidence, communication and concentration, and inspiring a lasting appreciation of nature and a desire to protect it.
The programme is delivered in both primary school and nature-based settings.
The programme is based on the understanding that nature plays a central role in helping children grow up well. From mental health and wellbeing to confidence, development and learning, regular connection with nature provides a wide range of benefits that are often underutilised, particularly for children growing up in disadvantaged communities.
The programme works with primary schools and delivers sessions in both school settings and natural environments. It follows a structured “stepping stones” approach, building familiarity, confidence and skills over time. Children begin with regular sessions in school grounds and local green spaces before progressing to visits to the North York Moors National Park, where they can apply what they have learned and spend time exploring, creating, playing and learning in nature.
Activities are sensory, practical and curriculum-linked, supporting creativity, curiosity, communication and concentration. Children are given opportunities to interact directly with natural materials, develop outdoor skills and build confidence through hands-on experiences.
The programme focuses on building a sense of belonging and agency, helping children to feel confident accessing and engaging with nature, from their local area through to the National Park and wider landscapes.
Stepping Stones to Nature works with schools serving communities where access to nature is often limited. This includes areas across Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough, some of which are among the most deprived in England. Many of the children involved face social, economic and physical barriers to accessing green space, and the programme aims to reduce these barriers and provide equitable access to nature.
Since 2024 over 320 children from five primary schools have taken part in school-based delivery, with more than 115 sessions delivered, as well as visits to the North York Moors National Park and a National Park ranger days in the community. On average each child has received two whole terms of weekly engagement.
Since October 2025, 14 children have taken part in a weekly weekend session in the National Park, including free transport and food, as well as a Dark Sky event at the new Danby Observatory in February 2026.
Early evaluation shows strong outcomes across health, wellbeing, development and learning. Children report feeling more connected to nature, more confident, spending more time outdoors and feeling calmer. Teachers and parents also report improvements in behaviour, focus and engagement.
The programme demonstrates how regular, sustained engagement with nature can support children’s outcomes, particularly where access to nature is limited.
Stepping Stones to Nature schools sessions are delivered on our behalf by Sylvan Lore, and our weekend sessions are delivered by The Wild Haven Project.
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Improve children’s health, social, developmental, and academic outcomes.
Deepen children’s connection with nature.
Nurture a lifelong motivation to take active steps to protect nature.
Strengthen nature confidence among teaching staff to encourage independently-led nature-based learning.
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Between April 2024 and March 2026 we have worked in five primary schools: Grangetown and Caedmon in Redcar and Cleveland and Newpor, Thorntree, and Linthorpe in Middlesbrough.
Through our schools based work we have engaged 320 children aged between seven and nine, as well as 20 members of teaching staff.
As of March 2026, the project has delivered 115 day sessions, enhancing nature knowledge and skills while supporting health, wellbeing and development, and enriching the learning experience for children from some of the local area and England's most deprived communities.
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We will be working with two new primary schools located in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough from June 2025 to July 2026.
We have plans to expand the number of schools we engage with in the near future.
If you are an interested school based in Redcar and Cleveland or Middlesbrough, please contact j.metcalfe@northyorkmoorstrust.uk.
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Between July 2025 and July 2026 we have received funding Rounton Coffee, ICL Boulby, Yor4Good, and HolidayCottages.co.uk, as well as drawing from our own reserves.
The project was funded by Ryedale and Whitby NFU Mutual through the Agency Giving Fund from April-December 2024.
We are actively seeking sponsorship of the project. If you are interested in funding this work, please email j.metcalfe@northyorkmoorstrust.uk.
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