Living Coast: Understanding the youth voice in Cumbria

Previous research, including Natural England's Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), has shown that the benefits from accessing the natural environment are not equally distributed across society. For instance, between 2013-15 interviews with parents for the national MENE survey found that 65% of children from lower income households visited the natural environment frequently, compared to 77% children from higher income households. Yet, we know very little about how young people perceive the coastal environment and how they use it. It is envisaged that successful completion of the research will result in Natural England and partners having invaluable evidence to inform the development of potential interventions associated with Living Coast in the future. This research will focus on a diverse sample of children and young people (aged 11-18) living close to the coast and the England Coast Path who (we suspect from MENE) are less likely to be using or benefiting from the coastal natural environment. Research questions include (but are not limited to): - What do young people in coastal environments think of the natural environment? - How do young people use the natural environment, including the coast? - What benefits do young people get from using the coastal environment? - What are the barriers for young people engaging with the natural environment? - How do young people value this space? - What would motivate them to get more engaged? - What kind of interventions do young people want to see in their local coastal environment?