CLA, Leaf publish teacher resource packs for Countryside Code

The CLA and Leaf Education have joined forces to improve understanding of the Countryside Code.

The code, which was first introduced in 1951, has recently been refreshed by the UK Government but is no longer taught in schools as a matter of course. This has led to widespread concern that young people are losing touch with the countryside, having little knowledge about how to enjoy their visit safely and responsibly.

That is the thinking behind a new resource pack for teachers and youth group leaders that has now been launched by the CLA and Leaf Education, offering fun and engaging lesson plan ideas aimed at Key Stage 2.

The resources are free to download from the CLA’s website, and will also be available on Countryside Classroom, a website regularly used by teachers seeking materials related to rural affairs.

CLA Director of External Affairs Jonathan Roberts said:

“For many, there is no better place than the Great British countryside. We want people from all parts of the country and beyond to visit and reap the physical and mental health benefits a visit to our rural communities can bring.

“But the countryside is a working environment, and it is hugely important that we teach young people in particular that being safe and responsible is fundamental to enjoyment of their visit.

“We have been lobbying government for some time to include the Countryside Code in the national curriculum, but there are things we can do ourselves to get the message out.

“These resources will help teachers put together informative and fun classes for young people, teaching them that responsible and safe use of the countryside is fundamental to their enjoyment of it.”

Carl Edwards, Director of Leaf Education, said:

“LEAF Education is delighted to have been able to work with the CLA on the production of these resources. Together we believe it is incredibly important that young people learn from an early age about the important messages in the Countryside Code. The earlier young people experience the joy of the countryside, the greater their chance of developing a life-long enjoyment and respect of the environment around them.

“Supporting teachers through these curriculum linked resources will not only help them in delivering an understanding of how the countryside works, but also help their pupils translate the importance of how to respect, protect and enjoy first their local environment and then the wider countryside.”