National Park project looks to help little feet take great strides in understanding the benefits of the countryside

Pre-school children will experience the benefits of the natural world thanks to a Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust (PCNPT) initiative sponsored by a grant from the Country Landowners & Business Association (CLA) Charity Trust.

“We’re looking to deliver a programme of around 160 outdoor play activities which will benefit scores of Pembrokeshire disadvantaged pre-school children, their families and their carers,” says Nichola Couceiro, Director of the ‘National Park Trust. “Through active education the children will learn about the natural world, about the coastal National Park and all that it offers. Using and celebrating the ‘great outdoors’ we hope the project will help reduce the risk of adverse childhood experiences in some of the most disadvantaged (mainly urban) areas in Pembrokeshire and harness a lifelong sense of care and responsibility towards nature.”

Some 3,000 Welsh farmers, land managers and rural businesses – many in South West Wales - are members of the CLA – an England-Wales body representing around 30,000 businesses in both countries. The CLA’s Community Trust is dedicated to supporting disadvantaged and people with special needs supporting them to experience and learn about the benefits of the countryside.

It’s a great time to be doing this,” Nichola adds, “We’re helping children, families and carers leave-behind any sense of isolation or enclosure they may have had during the Covid 19 pandemic lockdowns. In addition we hope to open their eyes to the riches of the natural world – perhaps providing an inspiration for developing little minds.”

“Some of the youngest pre-school children may never have experienced the natural world in all its glory – and this may be their very first experience.”

Nichola explains, “Launched just two years ago, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust is a charity dedicated to keeping all that is special and unique about the National Park landscape here for future generations to enjoy. The charity supports a range of projects including People, Paths and Pollinators, the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools Program and Roots an education project working with schools and local farms to learn more about food and landscape.