New Perspectives Storytelling Grants

As part of our New Perspectives project we have offered grants to young people to share their stories of National Parks

Tell us your story

As part of our New Perspectives project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we offered funding opportunities of up to £1,000 to young people who want to develop their communication and storytelling skills and share their stories of National Parks. We heard from young people who wanted to develop a project exploring an issue, topic or story relating to one or more of the 13 National Parks in England and Wales.​

Explore their stories below.

Thanks to National Lottery players

Stories from across the Parks

Alicia Hayden with her book I, me, moor

I, me, moor by Alicia Hayden

Alicia’s book follows Mimi and her family who live in North Yorkshire; her mother rocks her whilst been serenaded by skylarks, and Mimi grows up playing surrounded by peat and gorse in the garden.

Young, wild and free

Hannah has produced a zine exploring the themes of nature, young people and the mental health crisis, featuring stories and photos she’s captured from the Peak District and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks.

The Trees Talking

The Trees Talking by Emily Quilton is a photography project based in the New Forest, that collaborates with nature to inspire a wonder around trees.

Exmoor at Night

Exmoor at Night by Leah Drage is a film that focuses on human interaction with the night sky in Exmoor National Park.

The best piece of advice I ever got as a young trans person was “there are happy trans people in the world, you just have to figure out how to be one.” For me, that meant getting outdoors and exploring the UK’s National Parks. Meeting other trans people while hiking in the South Downs National Park has given me a sense of community, connectedness, and hope for the future that changed my life. That is what the National Parks mean to me.

Felix, on his project Transing the Wild: Wilding the Trans (2025)

More New Perspectives

New Perspectives

New Perspectives

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

Amira - behind the scenes

Stories from 2021-2023

We teamed up with Ocean City Media to support young storytellers to share their stories as part of the National Parks: New Perspectives bursary scheme

Future Leaders Course

The course has been developed with young people and focuses on support to advance as a next generation leader and change-maker.