Youth groups urged to give lessons on Countryside Code
Campaign by Country Land and Business Association
Youth groups have been urged to educate young people on the rules of the countryside as part of a rural group’s ongoing awareness campaign.
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents farmers and landowners across the South East, has produced a free lesson plan on the Countryside Code.
Organisers of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Scouts – including Chief Scout Bear Grylls, Beavers, Cubs and many other education authorities have been approached by the CLA.
Aimed at children aged eight to 10 the lesson plans, developed together with Leaf Education, centre around the code’s messages of respecting everyone, protecting the environment and enjoying the outdoors through many fun-filled activities such as a soil investigator’s exercise, sky lantern role-play activity and a waymarker memory game.
The ambition of the campaign is to teach children to appreciate the countryside and that responsible behaviour is crucial in both enjoying it and protecting it.
Regional director Tim Bamford said: “More and more people continue to make the most of our beautiful countryside – and we want to ensure they all feel welcome.
“In doing so, we want to help people understand how to enjoy their visit safely and responsibly, starting in schools and youth groups.
“For a long time there has been a lack of education around the Countryside Code, which is why we’ve developed these packs to ensure young people, and their families, can enjoy visits to the countryside, contribute to the protection of our fragile environment and learn more about other users who live and work in rural areas. We’d strongly urge all youth groups to make full use of this resource so that they themselves can become custodians of the countryside, with both visitors and farmers reaping the rewards.”
The CLA’s campaign follows the Gazette’s own awareness drive to highlight the code, which was given a refresh earlier this year.
A copy of the CLA’s lesson plan is available to download from the CLA website at www.cla.org.uk/campaigns/ countryside-code