Rugby pro turned adventurer Richard Parks says that nature saved his life after quitting the sport left him depressed.
Launching Natural Resources Wales' ' Nature and Us' campaign, Richard spoke to pupils at Ysgol Y Wern in Cardiff about nature and the climate crisis.
He also spoke about the deep personal connection he feels with nature since becoming involved with extreme expeditions over a decade ago.
Read more: Nature and Us campaign launches to engage the nation on the future of Wales' environment.
Speaking at the forest school at Ysgol Y Wern in the Llanishen area of Cardiff, Richard said: "I feel very privileged to have seen many parts of the world that many people have not been able to see.
"Over the last 10 or 12 years I have done some really cool expeditions. I have also seen some really scary things.
"I have been to Antarctica five times over the years and it scares me how much that continent is changing. And to me, that is clearly because of climate change."
You can read more environment stories here.
Richard said that nature helped him to cope after leaving rugby due to injury. He said: "At that point in my life nature helped me get myself out of depression. I often say that nature saved my life and I don't say that lightly."
Richard spoke to year six pupils in their 'forest school' about the climate crisis, the race to net zero, and his numerous adventures across the globe.
He told WalesOnline: "My son Fred loves Southerndown. It's like a big playground to him. He loves beaches and castles and rocks and a combination of the three.
"Personally, I love the Newport Wetlands - they are almost otherworldly.
"The last two years has proved how important nature and the outdoors is to my own well-being."
Year six teacher Aled Thomas said that nature and the environment is a big part of the school curriculum. He said: "The children start off by learning about nature in our forest school where they can experience nature that applies to their own life.
"We are just starting a topic called 'climate emergency' with the year six pupils where we will discuss the climate and things like COP26, renewable energy and sustainability."
Ysgol Y Wern is one of a number of schools across Wales that have an outdoor 'forest school' for children to learn outside about nature in the local area. Brengain Evans runs the programme at Ysgol Y Wern.
She said: "We have been running the forest school for about six years. The children take the lead and can explore - forest school is very special.
"I enjoy it as much as the children."
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