One in Three UK Youth Terrified by Climate Crisis, Poll Finds
A shocking YouGov poll reveals that 33% of young people in the UK feel scared, 34% sad, and 34% pessimistic about climate change. Nearly one-third (28%) say they feel overwhelmed by the looming environmental disaster.
Climate Fears Force Youngsters to Rethink Having Kids
A separate Woodland Trust survey unearthed a grim reality: 24% of 16-24-year-olds are so anxious about the climate crisis they’ve either decided or are seriously considering having fewer children than they’d like.
While 70% of young Brits fret over climate change, a massive 86% agree that being outdoors among nature boosts their mental health.
Woodland Access Declines as UK Trails Behind Europe
Woodland Trust boss Dr Darren Moorcroft called the results “alarming.” He pointed out the UK’s woodland cover is a pitiful 13%—well below the European average of 37%. Even worse, only 7% of our woods are in good ecological shape.
Meanwhile, access to green spaces is shrinking. The Trust’s 2021 report showed just 16.2% of Brits can reach 2 hectares of green land within 500m of home—down from 21.1% in 2016.
Nature Is the Therapy Too Few Get
Young people like Elyse White, 22, credit woodland spaces with saving their mental health. Elyse, who works at the Young People’s Forest in Derbyshire, said: “I suffer from anxiety, but the Young People’s Forest has transformed my confidence. Nature gave me comfort and distraction – it became life-changing therapy.”
Experts agree. Hayley Jarvis from mental health charity Mind said ecotherapy—involving activities in nature—can be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
Unlike gyms, the outdoors stimulates senses with colours, sounds, and smells that soothe the mind and lift mood.
The Woodland Trust Pledges 50 Million More Trees by 2030
The UK’s largest woodland charity is launching a massive ‘Plant More Trees’ campaign. They aim to plant 50 million native trees across the country by 2030.
Three-quarters of young people are keen to plant or have already planted a tree, with just 9% opposed.
Dr Moorcroft warned: “The UK has critically low woodland cover. We want to raise it to 19% by 2050. Trees are vital for tackling climate and nature crises and boosting health. But many young people are missing out on these benefits.”
With government targets on green space and net-zero emissions—but little visible progress—time is running out to protect both the planet and the mental wellbeing of Britain’s youth.
