Introducing our membership for Young People aged 18-25
We’re excited to announce our new Young Person Membership, helping improve access to nature and the affordability of visits to Westonbirt Arboretum. It’s our goal to help support wellbeing in young people at the same time as conserving trees, developing the charity together.
The key details:
- Developed for 18-25 year olds
- £30 per year compared with £45 for Single Adult Membership
- Includes access to all our member benefits, as well as free or discounted entry into our Partner Gardens.
The new membership recognises the financial constraints faced in this age group, including students, and we’re ecstatic to launch the offering just in time for the vibrant Autumn Colours, the most anticipated season at Westonbirt.
All our memberships serve as donations that support the arboretum’s 10-year vision to connect people with trees, to improve quality of life, as well as inspiring young people through conservation, education and participation. Members also receive a host of membership benefits as a way of saying thank you for being one of Westonbirt’s advocates.
Emma Griffiths, CEO, said: “We feel this is a great way to enable younger people to access nature while boosting their mental wellbeing. It’s about having more opportunity to venture into the Great Outdoors and to disconnect from technology and the stresses of modern living. But it’s also about doing so in an affordable way, while advocating the work we do, so we can ensure the arboretum will continue to flourish and be better able to play its part in tackling global challenges. We want as many people as possible to experience the strong connection with trees, and to benefit from its positive impacts on health and wellbeing.”
Research shows that getting out into nature offers immense benefits for mental and physical wellbeing. Spending time in green space is associated with improved mood, reduced feelings of stress and anger, as well as improved confidence and self-esteem. Getting out into the fresh air encourages more physical activity and the chance to connect with others.
This comes as alarming statistics reveal that young people in the UK have higher mental health needs than ever, with numbers increasing since the pandemic. The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England report, published annually by NHS England, found that 23.3% of 17 to 19-year-olds had a probable mental disorder in 2023, while in 20 to 25-year-olds it was 21.7%. This equates to one in five young people. The same survey revealed that 17 to 25-year-olds with a probable mental disorder were three times more likely to not be able to afford to take part in activities such as sports, days out, or socialising with friends, compared with those unlikely to have a mental disorder (26.1% compared with 8.3%). Just over half (54.8%) of young people aged 17 to 25 years reported being worried about the impact of climate change.
In light of this, Westonbirt has reevaluated its plans, ensuring that the tree collection is better managed to support young people’s aspirations and interests in the future. Drawing on a significant research project conducted by Westonbirt staff in collaboration with Bedgebury National Pinetum, key recommendations included enabling greater representation of young people in decision making, responding to their environmental concerns more directly, and supporting their wellbeing. The research also highlighted a number of barriers to participation facing young people, that the Young Person Membership aims to address.
Join today, or gift a Young Person Membership to someone in your life.
