Environmental activist Dr Mya-Rose Craig, known widely as “Birdgirl,” says the cultural conversation around diversity in nature has changed dramatically since she began her work a decade ago.
Craig founded Black2Nature when she was just 13, aiming to help children from Visible Minority Ethnic (VME) backgrounds experience nature and the outdoors. Now 23, she says the charity’s 10th anniversary highlights just how far things have come—though there is still “a lot of progress to be made.”
“It’s amazing to look back at the hundreds of kids we’ve worked with, all the activities we’ve run, and the lives we’ve changed,” she said.
A shift in how society talks about race and nature
Craig recalls that, when she first raised concerns about the lack of diversity in outdoor spaces, many people were reluctant to engage.
“When I first started having these conversations, people didn’t want to talk about it,” she said. “It made them uncomfortable. They didn’t want to acknowledge exclusion or racism. But so much has shifted in ten years.”
For Craig, this growing openness is essential to building a more inclusive and sustainable environmental movement.
Black2Nature now runs camps, day trips and outdoor experiences to help VME children and families access nature. The organisation also campaigns for racial diversity within the environmental sector and equal access to green spaces.
A mission rooted in a love of nature
Growing up in the Chew Valley in Somerset, Craig developed a deep appreciation for wildlife and the environment. That passion inspired her to create a charity dedicated to giving other children the same opportunities.
“I strongly felt that nature is vital for mental and physical health,” she said. “Many of the kids we work with have never visited the countryside. They often feel it’s not a space for them.”
Research from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) supports this, showing that ethnic minority communities have 11 times less access to green space compared with the wider population.
Making nature accessible for families
For parents like Kumar Sultana, 42, from Bristol, Black2Nature has opened doors that would otherwise remain closed.
“I’m a low-income parent — I can’t afford things like camping,” she said. “These activities have helped my children connect with nature and learn about sustainability.”
Looking ahead: more equity, more access
To celebrate its 10-year milestone, Black2Nature will hold a conference at the University of the West of England (UWE) focusing on race equity, education and career pathways in the environmental sector.
Craig hopes future efforts will encourage environmental organisations to engage more deeply with diverse communities and help young people discover career opportunities in conservation and ecology.
She also wants to see nature become more accessible across the UK.
“I’d love to see better-quality green spaces in cities,” she said. “There’s still a class divide — nicer neighbourhoods tend to have nicer parks.”
