Princess Royal marks 10 years of Let’s Learn Moor at Abbeystead

BASC’s Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined 167 pupils from five Lancashire primary schools at Grosvenor’s Abbeystead Estate on Friday 2 October to mark the 10th anniversary of Let’s Learn Moor, the upland education programme that has now brought more than 16,000 young people on to the moors. The Forest of Bowland Moorland Group hosted the celebratory day on the estate, a long-term supporter of the event.

What did the children do on the day?

Pupils from Devonshire Primary Academy in Blackpool, St Mary’s Primary School at Claughton, Cawthorne’s Endowed Primary School at Abbeystead, Dolphinholme Primary School and St Francis’ Catholic Primary School at Goosnargh moved between sessions run by the programme’s activity partners. Lancashire Constabulary covered rural crime awareness, the Wyre Rivers Trust ran aquatic surveys, L&A Dent Game Dealers offered game meat tasters, the estate presented nature recovery and climate resilience, Field & Fell Environmental covered moorland restoration, and the moorland group’s gamekeepers gave a gundog demonstration.

The Princess Royal spoke to the children about their experiences and met the organisations whose support has helped the programme grow.

How has Let’s Learn Moor grown in a decade?

Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of training and education and the programme’s coordinator, said: “What began as a relatively small initiative has grown into the UK’s largest upland education programme, giving more than 16,000 young people the opportunity to experience our moorlands and understand the people and communities who care for these landscapes, as well as the wildlife that calls them home.”

“For many pupils, these experiences provide their first opportunity to explore an upland landscape, meet the people who work within it and gain a better understanding of the importance of moorland and its management. Let’s Learn Moor is a tremendous team effort, and everyone involved should be immensely proud of the part they have played,” he added, thanking the estate, the moorland group and Countryside Learning.

Let’s Learn Moor is overseen by BASC and funded by its Legacy Fund, with events facilitated by the Regional Moorland Groups and private estates across northern England and the support of more than 50 other partners. Many of the schoolchildren it reaches live in urban areas.

What happens next?

The programme continues into its second decade, with events planned across the northern uplands next summer. Schools and potential partners can find details through BASC’s Let’s Learn Moor pages.