Government urged to include the Countryside Code in curriculum
Association says ‘there is too little being taught’ to children
Teaching the dos and don’ts of the countryside should be made compulsory in schools says an organisation that champions rural life.
Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has written to secretary of state for education Gavin Williamson calling for the Countryside Code to be included in the national curriculum.
In the letter CLA president Mark Bridgeman wrote: “In manywaysCovid-19hasbeenthe catalyst for change, with many people seeking to explore the countryside.Thisisagoodthing.
“Unfortunately, however, lack of knowledge of how to enjoy the countryside has resulted in many accidents, as well as the death of livestock animals from dog attacks, wildfires, crop damage and high volumes of litter. It is clear that action is necessary not just to refresh the Countryside Code – as Natural England has recently done – but to actively teach children its message.”
It is the second consecutive year CLA, which represents businesses and farmers in England and Wales and has about 5,000 members in the South East, has called for the code to be taught in schools. Along with the plea this year it announced it had partnered with LEAF Education to produce resource packs aimed at key stage two pupils.
CLA’s South East regional director Michael Valenzia said: “Speak to any farmer or landowner and they will tell you that we need to do more to introduce children to the countryside – and with it, teach them how to be safe and responsible.
“We initially wrote to the education department in 2020 and were, to say the least, frustrated by the reply. That’s why we took the matter into our ownhandsandayearlaterwehave donemuchoftheworkforthem.
“But we need a conversation about how to properly embed the Countryside Code into schools. There is too little being taught, and many farmers see the consequences on their own land, be it from wildfires, litter or dog attacks on livestock.”
The Countryside Code booklet was first published in 1951. In April, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales updated the code – the first time in more than a decade – to coincide with its 70th anniversary.