Kids are struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. Could nature be the answer?

On World Environment Day, people across the globe will be considering the value of nature and what they can do to ensure it is protected for future generations. But our new research shows that those future generations need our support now and being in nature and helping the environment to thrive could be part of the answer.  

When we asked more than 2,000 parents across the UK about their children’s mental health, we were shocked and surprised to find that one in four children are struggling with anxiety and panic attacks.

We know there isn’t a simple solution to mental health challenges, but more than a third of parents surveyed (43%) told The National Lottery Community Fund that they thought that spending more time experiencing the natural world could help to improve their child’s mental health and wellbeing.

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One person who has benefited from spending time in the natural world is Abby-Leigh Doig, a 24-year-old who has autism, anxiety and depression. Abby found it very difficult to speak to people, could barely get out of bed and even dropped out of college. But then she heard about Lucky Ewe, a project teaching young people how to look after farm animals funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, and it transformed her mental health, dramatically improving her life.

From finding it extremely difficult to socialise, Abby now speaks to audiences of over 200 people about mental health, crediting her growth to the outdoor project. She said spending time with the sheep or planting trees was relaxing and took her mind off her worries. She said she felt needed and useful and focusing on the animals made it less intimidating to talk to people.

She says that nature and the amazing people in her community who set up Lucky Ewe have transformed her mental health and made life worth living again.

Mental health is unquestionably a complex area with no single solution. We do know, however, that access to green space and outdoor activity can have real benefits in supporting with mental wellbeing and our research demonstrates the importance of this to parents who want their children to spend time outside.

We want more people like Abby to reap the health benefits of being in nature, whether that’s taking a walk or getting involved in local environment-based projects. We are also committed to supporting communities in their efforts to tackle climate change.

But we know this takes money, so we are encouraging people across the UK to apply for lottery funding to set up environmental projects in their local community. Through our Awards for All programme, we offer grants from £300 to £20,000 for environmental projects that can transform communities.  Picture a group of parents starting a forest school in their local park, teenagers learning to repair electronics instead of throwing them away, or residents coming together to plant trees on their estate.

But our funding opportunities go far beyond short term grants. At the National Lottery Community Fund, we’re committed to driving long-term, systemic change—not just short-term solutions. Our flagship programmes, such as the Climate Action Fund, exemplify this ambition. With grants starting at £500,000 and most projects receiving between £1 million and £1.5m over three to five years, we’re investing in bold, community-led projects for the environment. You can explore a full range of our funding programmes here.

There is real passion in our communities across the UK to make a difference in tackling environmental challenges. Over the past year, we have supported nearly 400 projects across the UK with nearly £50m of funding thanks to National Lottery players, and it’s inspiring to see the powerful impact our funding is having- not only on the environment, but also on people’s connection with nature and with each other.

When we asked projects funded by our flagship Climate Action Fund about the impact they were having, 36 of them told us that in one year more than 7,500 volunteers took part in projects to improve the environment in just one year and the projects planted 7,000 trees, saved over 3,000 tonnes of food waste – roughly the weight of 2,059 cars – repaired or recycled almost 62,000 items, and redeveloped almost 17,000 square metres of community gardens, around the size of 65 tennis courts. These activities don’t just represent action on environmental issues, they also increase social connections, benefit mental health and wellbeing and foster community spirit.

As we mark World Environment Day, our message is both urgent and hopeful. Our children are struggling with unprecedented levels of anxiety, but getting out into nature and helping the environment doesn’t just help our planet – it can help young people’s mental health too. Whether it’s a weekend walk in the local park, volunteering to clear litter from a canal, or joining a community gardening project, these simple acts of connection with nature can make a real difference.

If you have ideas for environmental projects that could benefit your community, visit tnlcommunityfund.org.uk to find out more about available funding opportunities.

John Rose is Wales director and environment lead at The National Lottery Community Fund, the biggest funder outside of local and national government.

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