A MOTHER and daughter team from Boscombe have launched a new online shop aimed at inspiring families to get closer to nature.

The Kids’ Nature Shop was created by mother and daughter team Sue Thomas and Erin Thomas Wong.

They have combined Erin’s business experience with Sue’s scholarly expertise to create an original and inspiring online store.

The duo created the shop following concerns about the widening gap between children and the natural world.

It aims to help remedy the problem with a showcase of hand-picked products and informative articles explaining why nature is good for children (and adults) and provides tips and tricks to get families started.

The articles are written by co-founder Dr Sue Thomas, an internationally-recognised author and scholar known for her research into the balance between nature, technology and wellbeing.

She said: “There is a huge amount of evidence to show that connecting with the natural world improves health and wellbeing.

“It also helps children and adults to concentrate and learn better, either offline or online.

“We are using that knowledge to select the best games, toys, books and outdoor kit for our shop .”

Her daughter and co-founder Erin Thomas Wong, a mother of two herself, wants to encourage families to build a better connection with the outdoors.

“We all know the importance of getting our children out into nature but today’s busy family life makes it hard to find the time,” said Erin.

“Not just that, but sometimes parents themselves have also lost touch with the outdoors. They long to get outside with their families but don’t know what to do or where to start.

“Whether it’s spotting birds, bugs and spiders, growing giant sunflowers, learning how to stargaze, or even going wild camping, we want to help families enjoy the magic of the outdoors.”

To find out more go to kidsnatureshop.com.