Action needed to bring countryside benefits to all
A public consultation on the best ways to encourage young people, people with disabilities, those from inner cities and black and ethnic minority communities, to visit and enjoy local green spaces and the English countryside, opens today (23 May).
The consultation is being run by the Countryside Agency on behalf of Defra. It seeks people's views on a draft action plan that aims, over a 10-year period, to increase the number of people from these groups, who choose to make use of the outdoor recreational opportunities that exist in both rural and urban areas.
The draft action plan is based on the findings of research undertaken as part of the Diversity Review. This Review showed that when people from such groups experienced the outdoors, they were keen to return.
The draft plan proposes new ways of working, both with the organisations providing outdoor recreation opportunities, and with the under-represented groups, so that the objective of increasing participation can be achieved.
Barry Gardiner, Minister for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, will launch a consultation exercise Outdoors for All?, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
Mr Gardiner said: "The Action Plan is all about working in partnership to show what the British countryside has to offer everyone. People are not making the most of even their local urban green spaces never mind the wider countryside. We need to know why and what we can do to encourage them.
"Being outdoors brings so many benefits - from a sense of well being and inspiration, to exercise and learning about the natural environment. Not to mention the new business opportunities that increased visitors bring.
"I am determined that we should do everything possible to give people of all ages and from all walks of life equal opportunity to enjoy and benefit from outdoor activities."
Andrew Wood, Countryside Agency Director, said: "There are millions of people up and down the country who are not currently enjoying the sense of freedom and the wide range of health benefits that visiting the countryside can bring - in either a deeply rural area or the green space closer to most people's homes.
"While it is not our responsibility to make people visit the countryside, it is our job to ensure everyone is aware of what the outdoors can offer them and give people every opportunity to enjoy it."
The consultation exercise extends until 30 September 2006. The consultation document will be available from 23 May at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/outdoorsdiversity
Those without internet access can call the Defra helpline on 08459 33 55 77 or the postal address The Outdoor Recreation Team, Sponsorship, Landscape and Recreation Division, Defra Zone 1/04 Temple Quay House 2 The Square Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6EB
In the East of England, a youth festival brought music and drama to the fens last year, with help from Defra.
The Four Corners Get Up and Go project received funding from Fens LeAP LEADER+, local parish councils and community groups, with an additional contribution from Defra.
LEADER+ is a European Community initiative, managed in England by
Defra, which promotes dynamic rural communities and economies by funding grass-roots projects, conceived and implemented by the communities that will benefit from them.
Youth Service Manager Mick Oliver, of Four Corners Get Up and Go,
said:
"Young people from Witcham, Mepal, Coveney and Sutton have been working on this festival for the last six months and it has really brought them together, it's been fantastic to see them plan everything."
The festival was held on Thursday 30 June 2005 with two shows. The first looked at music and dancing over the last 50 years, followed by a drama written by young people, aiming to raise awareness of the serious nature of drugs in the area and educate people on the support needed.
On Friday 1St July the two shows were performed again to parish and district councillors. On Saturday 2 July, a break-dancing group held a workshop at Sutton Village Hall from 10pm and performing in the project's 12-05 show in the afternoon. The 12-05 shows were be repeated again on the Saturday evening to an audience of friends and family.
A Fenland film festival also showcased dancers and skateboarders in March and Whittlesey last summer, with help from Defra.
Two short films were made as part of the G8way project, which received part funding from Fens 'LeAP' LEADER+ and Defra.
The world premiere of "Skating where it's Flat" and "This is Fenland" was held at March Town Hall on Saturday 23 July, 2005. The films ran there until Thursday 28 July and then showed at Whittlesey One Stop Shop from Saturday 30 July to Thursday 4 August.
Andrew Wilson, G8Way's project manager explained that young skateboarders and dancers from Fenland had worked on all aspects of the films, from writing and performing, to editing and creating the soundtrack.
He said:
"Where It's Flat" is a tour of the best skate parks and street skating locations in the Fens, with the young people working with film-maker Paul Emery.
"This is Fenland" shows young dancers performing on the streets and in the countryside of Fenland. They worked with choreographer Maria Blundell and film director Sasha Damjanovski."
Andrew added:
"Make sure you remember the film-makers' names. They might be on the big screen in the near future!"
The films are the final part of the two-year G8way project, which has also provided street dance workshops and creative technology projects. More than 700 young people across March, Chatteris and their surrounding villages have taken part in a range of activities including creative text competitions, a free SMS art information service and mobile phone customising.
