A school trip they’ll struggle to forget 

The dust settles on another brilliant year

The dust created by nearly 2,500 children running down the moorland tracks has just about settled. It’s provided time for reflection on what has been an incredible two weeks for Let’s Learn Moor.

Before Let’s Learn Moor’s metamorphosis into the largest upland education programme in the UK, it began as a simple idea. Back in 2017, BASC, the North York Moors Moorland Organisation, and Countryside Learning came together with a shared goal. Their aim was to provide hands-on learning and paint a realistic picture of moorland management.

Bringing moorland to life for young minds

Our ethos has always been to offer a transparent, informative, and fun experience. Through demonstrations and interactive sessions, those responsible for moorland management share their passion and expertise. They do this with hundreds of young people at a time—many of whom have never visited the moors before.

A true collaborative effort

Let’s Learn Moor is a collaborative educational project, overseen by BASC and Countryside Learning. It is made possible thanks to BASC’s Legacy Fund. Events are facilitated by Regional Moorland Groups and private estates, which play a crucial role in the programme’s success.

This year, events took place at seven locations: the Forest of Bowland, North Pennines, Nidderdale, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, and Calderdale.

One of the project’s core strengths is the variety of partners involved. We work with more than 50 different organisations. These include police forces, national parks, the fire service, mountain rescue, hill farmers, beekeepers, AONBs, rivers trusts, Yorkshire Water, and, of course, the gamekeepers. All of them volunteer their time to support the project.

Making a lasting impact

Since it began, Let’s Learn Moor has welcomed 13,747 children and over 1,000 teachers and support staff. That’s thousands of people who now understand what moorland management involves. They also walk away with knowledge that may shape their future decisions.

We’ve witnessed some special moments. Children seeing sheep for the first time and asking, “Why aren’t there any fences to keep them in?” Many are disconnected from nature—but Let’s Learn Moor is helping to change that.

This year, 70% of participating schools were from urban areas. We’re offering children a chance to leave the classroom, escape their city or town, enjoy nature, and learn new things.

Unforgettable moments in the great outdoors

There’s one moment at every event that always brings a smile to my face. It’s when the stillness of the moors is broken by the excited chatter of children stepping off the bus. They gaze out at the landscape in awe. For us, it’s familiar. But for them, it’s a memory they’ll carry for years.

Part of a broader youth outreach mission

For BASC, Let’s Learn Moor sits within a wider outreach effort—our BASC to School initiative. BASC has a proud legacy in youth engagement, having pioneered the Young Shots programme more than 20 years ago.

Today, our outreach has grown significantly. We now reach thousands of young people every year. From delivering curriculum-based school sessions to hosting estate visits, our engagement continues to expand.

Since 2022, when we began recording our output through BASC to School, we’ve reached over 160,000 youngsters.

For more information on Let’s Learn Moor and BASC to School, visit basc.org.uk/lets-learn-moor and basc.org.uk/basc-to-school