Mount Kelly Nature Education Conference (20 March 2026)
About
Uniting Education, Nature and Natural History for the Next Generation - Friday 20 March 2026, Mount Kelly, TavistockThe Nature Education Conference is the UK’s first large-scale gathering dedicated to placing Nature Connection at the heart of education.
This one-day event will bring together school leaders, senior decision makers, policymakers, conservation organisations, researchers and innovators to explore how teaching and learning can be transformed through a deeper connection with the natural world.
Our ambition is simple: to shape a future where Nature and natural history are not extras, but essentials — central to how we educate, inspire and prepare young people for life.
Delegates will not only hear from the UK’s leading voices but will also leave with a digital implementation pack — practical resources, contacts, and learning materials — to take back into their schools and communities.
OUR AIMS
- Build a national conversation on the role of Nature Connection in education
- Explore how curriculum, policy and practice can evolve together
- Share innovations and real-world examples from the UK and overseas
- Highlight research on the benefits of Nature for learning, wellbeing and community
- Inspire practical, immediate steps that schools and organisations can implement
WHERE
The conference will be held at Mount Kelly in Tavistock, a stunning location on the edge of Dartmoor.
Mount Kelly has spent the last 18 months embedding Nature into its curriculum through a wide range of classroom and outdoor activities. Progress is being measured through the University of Derby’s respected Nature Connection Index, which has already shown clear, positive results.
This pioneering work has been made possible by the generous support of Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. Building on this foundation, Mount Kelly is now working with the University of Oxford’s sustainability team, focusing on the impact of Nature Connectedness on attendance rates and behaviour.
This groundbreaking work provides the starting point for the conference: a chance to explore what is already possible, and to inspire others to adapt and apply these approaches – whether in classrooms, through outdoor learning, or through the development of new qualifications such as the Natural History GCSE.
KEY THEMES & SPEAKERS
- The future of education, Nature, and natural history in the UK
- Research on Nature Connection and learning outcomes
- Innovative school and community programmes
- The development of new qualifications, including the Natural History GCSE
- Cross-sector contributions
- Skills for life: fieldwork and first-hand natural history learning
- Technology’s role in connecting young people with the natural world
- Careers in Nature and beyond — from conservation to finance, media and the arts
The speaker line-up will feature some of the most influential voices in nature and education, including:
- Lizzie Daly – wildlife biologist, broadcaster, filmmaker, and conservationist
- Representatives from OCR, the exam board developing the Natural History GCSE
- University of Oxford sustainability team
- The Royal Society funding opportunities
- Innovators such as ThoughtBox, linking Nature to leadership and wellbeing
- International perspectives on nature education
- Partners from visitor attractions and conservation organisations
- National Nature Park – on mapping and resources for schools
- Thomas Franks on sustainability and biodiversity in school food provisions
TICKETS:
- Early Bird Tickets are offered at £150.00
- Standard Tickets are offered at £225.00
Date
Friday 20 March 2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (UTC+00)Location
Mount Kelly
Mount Kelly, Parkwood Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0HZ
Contact Form
Mount Kelly Nature Education Conference (20 March 2026)
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