Championing Outdoor Learning

Stranmillis Champions Outdoor Learning, Environmental Stewardship, and Food Growing for a Sustainable Future

The College, in partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, and supported Energia’s Greener Possibilities fund and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a pioneering new outdoor learning and environmental education facility designed to prepare future teachers to lead the way in sustainability and climate education.

The new site—part of the innovative Generation Nature project—features a rich variety of outdoor learning spaces, including a mini orchard, polytunnel, fruit bushes, woodland area, group shelter, willow dome, wildflower meadow, and raised planting beds. These diverse habitats offer student teachers practical opportunities to engage with biodiversity, environmental protection, and food growing in a hands-on way.

The initiative is designed to boost teacher confidence in delivering climate and environmental education, a goal rooted in global research: a UNESCO study found that while 95% of teachers see climate education as important, less than 30% feel ready to teach it.

At Stranmillis, students across a range of teaching qualifications now have access to this dedicated site where they can put theory into practice. Annual nature awareness lectures will be followed up by outdoor sessions, giving students the tools to embed environmental themes across the curriculum in creative, subject-integrated ways.

Marking a first for the College, Stranmillis has committed to integrating nature awareness education into its core curriculum, making it a compulsory part of all teacher training pathways. This forward-thinking move positions the institution at the forefront of climate-conscious education in Northern Ireland.

As environmental challenges intensify globally, initiatives like Generation Nature offer a hopeful blueprint—empowering the next generation of educators to lead meaningful change from their own classrooms.

Speaking at the launch of the new facility, Prof. Jonathan Heggarty, Stranmillis University College Principal, said: “Outdoor learning is increasingly recognised as an important component of education—fostering creativity, hands-on engagement, environmental awareness and physical wellbeing, while also developing key life skills in young people. Stranmillis continues to provide educational leadership in this area, with our academic research, teaching, and scholarship in outdoor learning at both undergraduate and Masters levels helping shape educational practice and policy across Northern Ireland and beyond.

What sets the College apart is our commitment to turn research and theory into action. As Northern Ireland’s first designated eco-campus, we embed sustainability into many aspects of campus life. Initiatives such as our involvement in Forest Schools, the launch of the interactive Centenary Nature Trail, and the development of the Out and About outdoor learning resource reflect our dedication to nurturing environmentally conscious communities.

This new initiative, Generation Nature, takes that commitment even further. This innovative programme supports student educators with tools and training to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. A special focus on growing food—through school gardens, planting projects, and eco-friendly gardening practices—gives pupils first-hand experience of where food comes from, the importance of biodiversity, and the environmental impact of food systems.

Generation Nature will help tomorrow’s teachers reconnect with the natural world, fostering a sense of responsibility and hope for a more sustainable future—one seed, one lesson at a time.”