Forest adventures that let Hong Kong kids ‘go wild’ – the perfect antidote to stormy times
The Little Bush Crafters programme allows children to play freely in nature, exploring woods and wading in a stream
Cramped spaces combined with noise and light pollution can make city living tough for children. Nature-based programmes such as Little Bush Crafters, which allows youngsters to “go wild” – play freely in nature, explore woods or wade in a stream – provide a welcome antidote.
“Kids learn how to cook over an open fire, use a saw to cut wood, navigate their way through a forest and play in the river – they get to create their own little adventures,” says Danie Strydom, founder of HK Forest Adventures, which runs Little Bush Crafters, a programme designed for four- to seven-year-olds.
The evidence suggests he is right.
In February, a study from Denmark’s Aarhus University found that children raised in green surroundings have up to 55 per cent less risk of developing mental disorders later in life.