Why is Nature the best Investment?

Sometimes the most important things happen completely by accident.

Leo (a guinea pig) came to the school where I was teaching as part of an educational visit from a local farm.

The children adored him. Alongside the other small animals, it was one of those simple but magical experiences that brought joy, curiosity, and connection.

A wholesome wellbeing event that had everyone smiling. At the end of the day, the farm packed up and left. Life carried on....Or so we thought.

Two days later, we returned to the school nature reserve.

The children came running towards me, pulling at my sleeve.

"Miss Trevett! Miss Trevett! There's a guinea pig!"

Not wanting to dim their sparkle, I assumed it was wishful thinking. Perhaps they had spotted a gliss gliss moving in the grass.

But when we looked, there he was.

Leo, alive, and alone....Two days after the visit, in a completely unfamiliar environment. Two very brave teachers saved him with a very funny story behind it, he was saved in a net which made him feel like he was on a rollercoaster!

As I watched him, I couldn't help but think about how much courage it must have taken for such a small creature to survive. He had adapted to change, navigated uncertainty, and found a way forward.

It sparked curiosity in me...

It became the inspiration for Leo is Lost, a climate and emotional literacy story based on a true experience in our school nature reserve.

More importantly, it became a way of helping children understand something many adults struggle with too: that change can feel frightening, but with support, connection, and community, we can find our way through it.

The story is now used as a structured storytelling tool to help children reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world around them, yet the story didn't end with Leo.

As Wellbeing and Sustainability Champion, my growing interest in sustainability and education led me to develop a week of eco events for our school community.

Working alongside fellow educators, sustainability organisations, and local champions, we created opportunities for children to experience nature in meaningful ways.

Then came The Great Big Green Week. I worked in collaboration and brought together six schools for one Green Day.

We welcomed local sports personalities, community leaders, families, educators, and the Leader of the Council. It was a magical memory and has stayed with me and I hope embedded in children's minds creating healthier habits.

Children explored habitats, planted, dug in the soil, listened to birdsong, which regulates our nervous systems and spent time immersed in nature.

Some had never experienced anything quite like it...What I observed that day changed everything.

Children from all backgrounds SEN, EAL, neurodiverse and social factors, children who often found the classroom challenging became engaged and curious. They collaborated, communicated, and connected. The outdoors gave them space to breathe, think, and simply be themselves.

Research shows that connection to nature can reduce stress, improve emotional wellbeing, and support children's ability to self-regulate. When children feel calm and safe, they are far more able to learn, build relationships, and develop confidence. I didn't need a research paper to tell me that.

I could see it with my own eyes and it reminded me of why I always felt safe outside in nature.

That experience became the foundation for Green Herts and Minds, a not-for-profit regenerative education programme that brings together emotional literacy, climate literacy, nature connection, and future green skills for children from Early Years to Key Stage 2.

Today, children are growing up in a rapidly changing world, alongside increasing concerns around wellbeing and anxiety, food security and a cost of living crisis, they are also navigating environmental challenges that will shape their future lives and careers.

The skills future employers will increasingly value include resilience, adaptability, communication, emotional intelligence, creativity, collaboration, and environmental awareness. These are not simply workplace skills; they are green life skills.

The most important seeds we can plant are people...Children, communities and future generations.

This is where businesses have a genuine role to play.

ESG commitments and CSR investment are not just about carbon targets and reporting requirements. They are about creating meaningful impact where it matters most.

Supporting programmes that help children develop emotional resilience, environmental understanding, and future-focused skills is one of the most powerful investments a business can make.

The return is not just social value.

It is stronger communities, healthier young people, and a future workforce equipped to navigate a changing world.

That is the vision behind Green Herts and Minds...and this is only the beginning.

Green Herts and Minds and Leo is Lost will be launching into schools from September 2026.

If your organisation is looking to create genuine community impact through its ESG or CSR commitments, I would love to connect with you: info@greensolutionsgroupltd.co.uk