A project to connect more than 25,000 young people with nature is underway.

Generation Green 2, which will run until spring 2025, is set to deliver over 41,500 nature experiences to digitally engaged but nature-disconnected demographics.

The New Forest National Park Authority is collaborating with the Countryside Education Trust  in Beaulieu to offer free visits to over 600 young people from disadvantaged areas.

The experiences will include river activities, forest exploration, and farm discovery days. The NFNPA has received £74,800 to facilitate these visits.

New Forest National Park Authority chair, David Bence said: "With more than 80 per cent of the UK population being urban, Generation Green 2 provides opportunities to connect young people to nature, many for the first time.

"The importance of this initiative to cultivate a sense of care for the natural environment, not only within our National Park but across the mosaic of protected landscapes, rural and urban communities as well as our city green spaces should not be underestimated."

The first phase of Generation Green saw similar initiatives supported by a £65,000 grant, benefiting young people aged 11 to 25 with nature-centred activities aimed at building confidence.

Generation Green 2 is being delivered by a coalition of 24 organisations and authorities across England.

The project aims to address significant inequalities in access to nature, often faced by poorer communities and ethnic minorities in the UK.

Research indicates 18 per cent of children in the most deprived areas never spend time in natural spaces.

The project will provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people to participate in farm visits, day trips, and nights under the stars.

These activities are designed to foster a lifelong connection with nature.

The ambitious project is being delivered by the Access Unlimited Partnership, a unique coalition of not-for-profit youth organisations, school residential outdoor providers, and organisations managing protected landscapes.

Funding for Generation Green 2 has been provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its ongoing support of access to nature.

The project started in spring this year, and nearly 6,000 young people have already benefited from the experiences.