Two rural organisations have teamed up to educate children how to
act safely and responsibly in the countryside with the launch of
a new resource pack.
Designed by the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) and
LEAF Education, the teaching materials are aimed at teachers and
youth group leaders to communicate crucial messages to Key Stage
2 pupils about the Countryside Code.
The code’s messages of respecting everyone, protecting the
environment and enjoying the outdoors are highlighted in these
packs through a list of 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.
Victoria Vyvyan, Vice President of the CLA which
represents 28,000 farmers, land managers and rural businesses
across England and Wales, said:
“The British countryside is famed the world over for its beauty.
It's no wonder millions of people every year visit rural
communities for holidays and day trips.
“But the countryside is a working environment, where farmers and
land managers work tirelessly to produce world-class food with
high environmental and animal welfare standards – and it’s
important young people, in particular, learn to enjoy their time
in rural areas safely and responsibly.
“These resource packs offer will enable teachers and group
leaders to put fun and engaging lessons plans together on the
Countryside Code so children can put what they learn into
practice.”
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.”
The code, which was first introduced in 1951, was recently
refreshed following a rise in the number of visitors to the
countryside during the pandemic.
The CLA continues to lobby the Education Secretary to include
the code as part of the school curriculum.
The pack is free to download from the CLA’s website and is also
available on the Countryside Classroom - a website regularly used
by teachers seeking materials related to rural affairs.
