News / Environment
‘Birdgirl’ Mya-Rose awarded grant to help boost diversity in nature sector
In 2020, Mya-Rose Craig played a major role in a national eco-summit, became the youngest Briton to ever receive an honorary doctorate and ranked in the top five of the The Woman’s Hour Power List 2020: Our Planet.
2021 looks to be just as busy for the 18-year-old known as Birdgirl. The nature lover, ornithologist and campaigner has won a £2,500 grant to grow Black2Nature and her Camp Avalon programme, which aim to increase diversity in the nature sector.
Mya-Rose, who lives in Compton Martin, founded Black2Nature aged 14, working to engage visibly minority ethnic (VME) people with nature by making it relevant to them and having positive role models.
is needed now More than ever
Camp Avalon a nature getaways held in Somerset for VME inner-city teenagers. The aim is to connect teens with nature and helping them to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being outdoors.
Participants have the opportunity to get up close with wildlife and take part in activities such as birding, mothing, nature sketching and photography.
The £2,500 grant from Zurich UK will allow Mya-Rose to grow the programme, as well as fully fund and run the first five-day nature camp for VME teens from deprived areas of London.
Mya-Rose has won a £2,500 grant to grow Black2Nature and her Camp Avalon programme. Photo: Third City
Mya-Rose applied for the grant after appearing as a panellist at Zurich’s first Youth Against Carbon Conference (YAC Con) in October 2020. The aim of the conference was to understand the role young people will play in the climate crisis, in response to fears it is taking a back seat during the Covid-19 crisis recovery.
“It’s young people who are powering climate change action,” says Laura McAlpine, head of sustainability at Zurich.
“Through YAC Con we wanted to not only get young voices and opinions heard, but also reward those who took part by giving them an opportunity to apply for a bursary to further progress their eco-initiatives.
“Mya-Rose’s project and growth plans really stood out to the judges. We’re excited to see where our funding and consultancy will take Black2Nature and Camp Avalon in the coming months.”
In February 2020, Mya-Rose became the youngest Briton to receive an honorary doctorate. Photo: University of Bristol
Mya-Rose believes that real engagement and improving representation in the environmental sector means listening to VME people and the barriers they face, as well as making nature relevant and accessible.
“Many teens from deprived, VME communities have never visited the countryside or had the opportunity to connect with nature – never seen a cow or sheep before,” says Mya-Rose.
“I believe everyone should have equal access to nature and the many benefits it brings. That’s where our camps come in. We get teens interested and inspired in nature by making it relevant to them and their lives.
“Over the next three years, I’m looking to increase the number of camps we run, with a target of organising 25 camps a year by 2025.
“It’s ambitious, but with Zurich’s support I’m now already able to start plans for our first camp for London teens and will be seeking their expertise on securing additional funding streams to deliver on our goal.”
Main photo: Ellie Pipe
Read more: Meet Birdgirl: The teenage nature lover who’s unafraid to challenge the status quo
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