Youth and the materialities of the outdoors: exploring nature connectivity through free play in hidden green spaces

Nature connection is considered beneficial for young people’s health and wellbeing and for developing pro-environmental behaviour, yet they display some of the lowest rates of access to nature spaces and levels of nature connectedness. Nature connection is often presented as synonymous with learning and formalised environmental education programmes represent the usual model for nature engagement interventions in youth. Evidence indicates, however, that activities which are youth led, and independently accessed may have the most impact in terms of improving nature connectivity. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative research project with young people aged between 12 and 16 years, who choose to access hidden green spaces regularly and independently, yet often without permission, on off-road mountain bikes. Their use of is predicated on accessibility, affordance for embodied engagement, and the creative practice of self-built jumps and trails and see’s young people make claims to spaces on the suburban fringe and form embodied knowledge of, and engagement with material natures. Findings provide insights into the relational materialities of young people’s self-directed connections with nature through independent access, the choices and negotiations with others that occur when accessing these spaces, and the emergence of action competence in respondents’ environmental attitudes and behaviours.