The Place Project: Philosophical enquiry in nature

In 2022–23, Thoughtful contributed to The PLACE Project, a one-year initiative that empowered children and young people to build meaningful connections with their local environments and take action within their communities. This was a partnership with Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC).

At the heart of PLACE was the idea of developing a deep connection to “place” – encompassing people, nature, and cultural heritage – through activities such as nature restoration, community action, and the creation of therapeutic green spaces. Thoughtful’s role within this rich programme was to use Philosophy for Children and Communities (P4C) to support young people to think critically, reflect deeply, and engage in thoughtful dialogue about their relationship with the world around them.

Through our expert facilitators, Jane Yates and Gina Parker Mallarkey, Thoughtful (then SAPERE) provided training and ongoing support to participating schools and groups, helping them embed philosophical enquiry into their activities. This work enabled young people to explore complex themes such as environmental responsibility, belonging, identity, and stewardship, strengthening both their understanding and their voice as active citizens.

By contributing philosophical enquiry to the other strands of the PLACE project – including social action, questing, and nature-based projects – Thoughtful supported the development of essential skills, values, and dispositions. These included empathy, curiosity, collaboration, and reasoned thinking, all of which are vital for nurturing resilient, engaged, and environmentally conscious communities.

We were proud to have been part of a project that not only enhanced wellbeing and connection to nature but also empowered young people as thoughtful agents of change, shaping the future of their places and communities.

This project led to the development of our Innovate P4C course on outdoor enquiry: Thinking with Nature.