Swap TV for outdoors, children told The campaign is being launched with the release of a new documentary film, Project Wild Thing, at more than 50 cinemas across the UK from Friday. Andy Simpson, chairman of the Wild Network, said: "The tragic truth is that kids have lost touch with nature and the outdoors in just one generation. Time spent outdoors is down, roaming ranges have fallen drastically, activity levels are declining and the ability to identify common species has been lost. New research published last week illustrates the scale of the challenge with only one in five children aged eight to 12 years old having a connection with nature. With many more parents becoming concerned about the dominance of screen time in their children's lives and growing scientific evidence that a decline in active time is bad news for the health and happiness of our children, we all need to become marketing directors for nature. An extra 30 minutes of wild time every day for all under 12-year-olds in the UK would be the equivalent of just three months of their childhood spent outdoors. "We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids" development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a go." One of those involved is David Bond, a film maker. He said: "I wanted to understand why my children's childhood is so different from mine, whether this matters and, if it does, what I can do about it. The reasons why kids, whether they live in cities or the countryside, have become disconnected from nature and the outdoors are complex. Project Wild Thing isn't some misty-eyed nostalgia for the past; we need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine, freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted. It's all about finding wildness on your doorstep and discovering the sights, sounds and smells of nature, whether in a back garden, local park or green space at the end of the road. Spending time outdoors is hugely beneficial to children and young people. Research clearly shows that it improves their health, reduces stress and boosts well-being. Suggested activities from the network include collecting conkers, camping, snail racing, playing leaf snap and counting autumn colour on trees. A new Wild Time app is also available to show how technology can help give families a list of ideas to help get their children outdoors. The campaign comes only days after a headteacher in Cambridgeshire announced he was introducing lessons in conkers after discovering that 95 per cent of his pupils had never played the game. John Cattermole has begun the scheme at Littleport Community Primary School.