Children 'scared to play outside'

All children should have safe open spaces nearby, a report says.

Children are afraid of going out of the home because of the perceived dangers of sexual attack, bullying or terrorism, a report says.

The Green Alliance and the think-tank Demos are calling for better and safer play environments to let children's "imaginations run wild".

Fewer children were walking to school, while playing fields were being sold, they added.

The organisations spoke in depth to 40 children aged 10 and 11 in England.

'Distrust'

Many of those interviewed preferred to spend time in their own garden to going out.

They showed a "distrust of the unfamiliar", with urban children not feeling comfortable in a rural environment and vice versa.

This was because of a "high degree of loyalty and ownership to their local area rather than direct personal experience of the alternative".

The report - A Child's Place - calls for pupils to get "a new entitlement to outdoor learning".

It blames increased insurance premiums and union advice to teachers for a decline in the number of school trips.

Staff should get more training to run them, it adds.

School safaris

The report's authors, Gillian Thomas and Guy Thompson, said: "Out-of-classroom learning should not just be about one-off excursions to museums or galleries, though these are clearly also of value.

"School safaris should occur on a weekly basis in all schools, and could involve children learning about trigonometry by going on fun fair rides, or doing a geography lesson within an airport arrivals lounge.

"Helping children explore their environments should involve reclaiming spaces for children, through regular, and maybe unexpected use."

Stories such as the Soham case, train crashes and terrorist attacks featured heavily in children's explanations of why they were scared of certain places.

Media coverage was a large influence on attitudes.

Obesity

The government should provide "safe" green space within 250 metres of all children's houses, the report said, stamping out the "inequality" between different areas.

A 2002 review found some local authorities were spending 10 times as much per play area as others, leading to a wide variety in quality.

Meanwhile, reports have shown children are exercising less, contributing to a rise in obesity levels.

The number walking to school fell from 62% in 1989 to 54% in 1999, according to the Social Trends survey.

The new report's authors said: "Children's well-being and environmental quality are inextricably linked.

"The paradox is that we are fostering a generation that is likely to face the toughest environmental challenges yet to be experienced by mankind, in terms of climate change and the ever-increasing pressure on natural resources.

"Yet our research suggests that children are losing their connection with the natural environment."

The Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, will launch a video to accompany the report on Wednesday.