Nature, young people and the mental health crisis
by Hannah Corsini
Young, wild and free by Hannah Corsini is a project that explores young people and their connection with nature, particularly post-COVID lockdown and growing up in a technology and work-obsessed world. Hannah has produced a zine featuring stories and photos she’s captured from the Peak District and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks.
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Dive into Hannah’s magical zine on nature, young people and mental health.
Hannah is a 24 year old from Buckinghamshire who has always had a love for wildlife - especially bees, bats and butterflies. She has been making nature-themed zines since 2022 with the aims of promoting environmental education, a particular passion of hers, and has written articles on topics from bison rewilding to invasive Argentine ants. She is currently completing an MSc in Conservation Science at Imperial College London and previously worked as a data analyst in environmental compliance. Most recently, she embarked on a trip to the Amazon jungle with her cohort, but in the past year she has also enjoyed visiting the Peak District thanks to the generous funding of Campaign for National Parks.
“My project was inspired by my own time spent on the Pembrokeshire Coast as well as a trip to the Peak District I took using part of the grant. Both of these visits gave me a chance to quiet my head and really consider the things that are important to me and my life. I’m also always inspired by nature.”
“I didn’t grow up near a national park so my connection to the parks looks a little different to other people in the New Perspectives grant. When I was in my final year of university, my mental health was at one of its lowest points ever following the explosive breakdown of a toxic relationship. This coincided with a university field trip to the Pembrokeshire Coast. The week provided a lot of comfort and solace in what was quite a horrible time for me, and I realise now that nature has always provided that for me. I like the idea that National Parks can provide a kind of landscape-level tranquility and re-connection with nature. However, I’m also aware of the barriers to National Parks that particularly affect me as a young person – especially one who has largely lived in urban areas – such as cost and feasibility of travel, and government willingness to effect and protect them.”
Right now we have a once in a generation opportunity to change how National Parks operate. It’s essential that future generations are part of it.
Will you help us shape the future of National Parks?
Our National Parks New Perspectives project aims to give young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to influence and connect with decision makers to change the narratives on who National Parks are for and who has a say in their future.
As part of our New Perspectives project we have offered grants to young people to share their stories of National Parks
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we provided storytelling grants, Future Leader Courses and opportunities for young people to join us as Ambassadors
