Naturalist Steve Backshall and Lost Gardens of Heligan co-founder Sir Tim Smit have called for greater "greenlightenment" in schools, urging that nature education be placed at the heart of the curriculum. Their intervention coincides with a government consultation on a proposed new natural history GCSE, which Sir Tim described as a "seismic moment for British education", arguing that understanding the natural world is fundamental to humanity's future. Backshall, who has hosted the Wild Heligan wildlife experience for young people, said engagement with nature makes children happier, healthier and more likely to tackle environmental problems.

A Heligan survey of 1,004 parent and child groups in England found stark gaps in children's contact with nature, including 55% who had never climbed a tree and 61% who had never collected a conker or camped in a tent. Sir Tim said children had not lost interest in nature but had lost the opportunities to experience it. Despite this, appetite for the proposed GCSE appeared strong, with 34% of children surveyed saying they would definitely choose it if offered and a further 41% saying they probably would. The government said the qualification would equip pupils with sought-after workforce skills and could help cut the number of young people not in education, employment or training.