TRASH Free Trails’ (TFT) research identifies the ultimate ‘cure’ for littering behaviour is environmental education for young people, as they relaunch their Education programme.
With the greatest barrier to accessing nature being the distance and cost of reaching it, (National Trust, 2024) more and more young people are growing up without learning how to responsibly use the outdoors. Despite calls for the Countryside Code to be taught in schools, (TES, 2020) a generation is growing up without learning vital outdoor skills, such as navigating using traditional methods, walking in unfamiliar countryside, and basic first aid.
Not-for-profit Trash Free Trails (TFT) are heralding a turning tide however, led by charities and ENGOs who are addressing the gap on environmental education. As they relaunch their own education programme, TFT is calling for more resources to support similar initiatives, helping schools integrate them into their curriculums.
TFT’s education programme has already been delivered to almost 300 young people across the UK. This year TFT are working with Bike Park Wales and Comrie Croft to deliver a bespoke mountain biking programme, as well as visiting schools around the country to deliver the sessions in playgrounds.
The programme combines outdoor physical activity such as mountain biking, running or hiking alongside lessons on environmental stewardship, leaving young people with practical skills that enable them to access the outdoors responsibly and with confidence.
Trash Free Trails’ data suggests 81% of participants experience an increased sense of connection to nature after undertaking a trail clean. They hope the education programme will see young people reap the wellbeing benefits of experiencing nature connection, and equip them with skills on how to be a responsible user of outdoor spaces, ensuring they take their rubbish home and remove any they find.
Associate Director Richard Breeden said: “Whether it’s by bike or foot, we want every young person to reap the rewards of time outside, and recognise doing their bit to protect those places is a core part of that experience.
“Our education programme is one of many that creates a positive feedback loop – by encouraging environmental stewardship, we can expect less littering behaviour from participants. Less littering means less trash on our trails – it’s as simple as that.’
Speaking to experiencing TFT Education’s programme first hand, Emily Greaves, Head Guide at Comrie Croft said: “Trash Free Trails has created something truly special – an engaging, hands-on programme that not only teaches young people about environmental stewardship but connects them to their local trails in a meaningful way.
“Seeing participants develop a sense of pride and responsibility for the places they visit has been fantastic.”
TFT’s education programme is freely available for parents, carers and educational professionals to bring to the young people they live and work with.
Richard Breeden continued: “If we want to end littering behaviour we have to go to where young people are and learn from them what their trails mean in their lives.
“Organisations like ours have already created the programmes to do this – but with more centralised support this could be a regular experience for every child.
“Whether they’re living in a national park, or on the fringes of a major city, they all deserve to learn the skills and confidence to get out there and make a difference with their own two hands.”
