Getting involved in natural history and being outdoors holds fears for some young people while for others it conjures up images of experts, notepads and Latin.

Yet the CHI Wild Attitudes survey carried out in 2004 showed that young people across Leicestershire and Rutland valued the countryside as a place for peace, relaxation and for providing open space to see plants and animals.

For CHI natural history was about discovering and exploring who your wild neighbours are and the wildlife that is living in your area.

On the following pages you can read about the work that CHI has done with young people using natural history as a focus. Projects were based on the ideas and interests of young people.

For people working with children aged 6-14 take a look at the Wild About Action Pack and the Collecting & Connecting project.