Children from the Yorkshire Dales area got to learn about moorland life at events which formed the UK’s largest upland classroom.
Youngsters had the chance to find a missing person with Swaledale Mountain Rescue, watch a gundog demonstration, put out a wildfire and learn how sheep’s wool can help with peatland restoration as part of interactive lessons, for Let’s Learn Moor 2024.
Children met people and organisations who help to protect moorland landscapes and species, learning about the importance of sphagnum moss, the dangers of wildfires and how to prevent them and the countryside code, among a number of other subjects.
The children visited separate stands where they spoke to moorland gamekeepers, hill farmers, a gundog trainer and the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation Educational Trust. They also had a chance to learn how the fleeces of Swaledale sheep can be made into woollen logs to help stop peatland from eroding and prevent flooding further downstream.
Two and a half thousand children attended Let’s Learn Moor events across the uplands of England over the course of the week.
The events are coordinated by the Regional Moorland Groups, Countryside Learning, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and involve more than 50 partner organisations.
The Yorkshire Dales event was organised by the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group. Darren Chadwick, from the group, said: “Let’s Learn Moor has once again been a marvellous experience for the over 300 children who attended over the two days. The event is the culmination of some great teamwork by the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group gamekeepers who recognise the importance of education future generations about our precious moorlands.
"Working with our partner organisations, the schools and of course the fantastic children is a highlight of our year."
Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of education and outreach, added: “This year has been the biggest and best Let's Learn Moor event to date. Nearly 2,600 children from schools across the north of England have been given the opportunity to meet the passionate individuals who live and work on our moorlands. From freshwater invertebrate surveys to sheep shearing, beekeeping and honey tasting to the gamekeepers and their firefighting equipment, the children have had the ultimate outdoor classroom experience.”
Part-funded by BASC legacy funding, the events were free to all schools involved.
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