RSPB to offer young people free admission to reserves
The RSPB is about to begin a two-year long pilot giving 16-24 year-olds free admission to the 21 reserves which currently charge for entry.
Announcing the news the RSPB, Europe’s largest conservation charity, said: “It’s our ambition to encourage more and more people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with wildlife and wild places and make our natural world as accessible as possible. “
“At the moment we know we need to do more to engage and connect with 16-24 year olds. Young people are less likely to visit our nature reserves than other age groups and we know that cost is one of the main barriers. By removing entry charges, we hope more young people will come to explore these wonderfully wild places and connect with the great outdoors in new ways.”
From 6th November, 16–24 year-olds just need to show a valid photo ID with the age on it when they arrive at any of the nature reserves. This could be a driving license, a proof of age card or passport. Parking charges may still apply reserves, users will still need to pay for these irrespective of their age.
The 21 reserves covered by the scheme;
- Arne
- Belfast's Window on Wildlife
- Bempton Cliffs
- Blacktoft Sands
- Burton Mere Wetlands
- Conwy
- Dungeness
- Frampton Marsh
- Lakenheath
- Leighton Moss
- Loch Garten
- Minsmere
- Old Moor
- Pulborough Brooks
- Rainham Marshes
- Ramsey Island
- Rathlin Island
- Saltholme
- Strumpshaw Fen
- Titchwell Marsh
- Ynys hir
Alice Hardiman, director of campaigns at the RSPB, said: “Through consultation with our Youth Council members and by taking into account statistics on young people’s engagement with nature, it became clear we need to do more to reach out to this key audience if we are to encourage everyone in society to act for nature.
The free entry pilot will run for two years, but the RSPB have said that they see this as our first step towards encouraging more young people to connect and take action for nature. They have said they are planning to create new opportunities for young people to get first-hand experiences of nature in an engaged and mindful way.
2 November 2023
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