Over the next six years, four English Wildlife Trusts will each receive funding from The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Emirates to fund tailored projects and initiatives in their local urban areas.
The participating trusts are: London Wildlife Trust; Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust; the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside; and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
The focus will be on engaging disadvantaged children, young people aged 16-24, and their families with nature.
Research conducted on behalf of the four Wildlife Trusts indicated that roughly one out of eight children from low socio-economic backgrounds aged under 12 has never experienced nature. Lack of green space facilities nearby (21%) and the cost of transport (17%) to get to the nearest green space facilities were identified by parents as two of the key barriers to their children spending more time in nature. Parents identified improved mood (48%), overall happiness (48%), more active (42%) and better physical health (35%) as the top positive changes within their children after they had spent time in nature.
Renowned naturalist, explorer, presenter and writer Steve Backshall MBE has endorsed the programme as its ambassador.
More information can be found on the Emirates website.