TWO family groups in South Oxford won a lottery grant and organised a guided family nature explorer session last week

Grandpont Nursery received lottery funding to run a project called ‘A sense of Place’ working with local families to encourage them to get outside with their children.

South Oxford Family Room (SOFR) are also working with the Nature Effect CIC to encourage families outdoors and use their local greenspaces.

Headteacher Lisa Fern said: “This project will support families to explore local green space and encourage them to get outdoors. We will continue learn from our experience and from international research about how children’s development and learning, their wellbeing and vitality is enhanced by connecting with nature and outdoor learning”.

Chair of SOFR Yan Wong said: “This is excellent news. This community has really rallied together since the closure due to funding cuts of our much loved children’s centre”.

The Nature Effect Director Annie Davy said: “We were delighted to work with this school and SOFR. We love getting families outdoors. Research shows that fewer children are getting outside and this leads to all kind of problems. Even in this green area, many families don’t have gardens and are unaware of the treasure they have on their doorstep.”