The Connecting Children and Nature Network - Canterbury Christ Church University

The Connecting Children and Nature Network is a cross-disciplinary partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and a range of local organisations (including schools, early years settings, environmental conservation groups and those with an arts and cultural heritage focus).  One of its aims is to develop collaborative bids for resources to support new activity.  Since its inception in July 2012 the Network has been successful in facilitating new collaborative research and knowledge exchange opportunities including an Academic Business Partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust and two pilot outdoor arts projects supported by investment from Artswork, the South East Bridge. There is widespread motivation from those involved to initiate a step-change and take the Network to the next level.  Applications for new larger-scale funding are more likely to be supported as a result an embedded and connected community partnership already being in existence.