Youth groups urged to use Countryside Code resource

The Country Land & Business Association (CLA) is urging a number of youth groups to make full use of a newly-released resource pack on the Countryside Code after attempts to make it part of the national curriculum were dismissed.

The CLA has written to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Girlguiding, Scout Association, including Chief Scout Bear Grylls, Sea Cadets, British Orienteering and local education authorities asking them to teach children the free lesson plan on the code.

Aimed at Key Stage 2 children 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 including a soil investigator’s exercise, sky lantern role play activity and waymarker memory game.

It is hoped these packs will help children and young adults understand that safe and responsible behaviour in the countryside is fundamental to enjoyment of it.

Mark Bridgeman, President of the CLA which represents 28,000 farmers, land managers and rural businesses across England and Wales, 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.”

A copy of the Countryside Code Lesson Plan is available to download from the CLA website here