who we are
Why is The Country Trust needed?
When The Country Trust was established in 1978 there was already a large amount of urbanization in this country. Over the intervening 30 years this has increased, with more than 80% of the population living in urban environments. Not only the pupils but also many of the teachers in schools today have little or no knowledge of how the countryside works. We now have two generations who are largely disconnected from the natural world and unaware of where their food comes from or how it is produced. It is vital for both urban and rural dwellers that the urban population is reconnected with the countryside and that rural inhabitants also have an appreciation of what modern urban life is like.
Recent research by the National Foundation for Educational Research has shown that teaching outside the classroom has declined and that it is important to increase the flow of schoolchildren into the countryside to learn about farming, food, environment, history, geography and science. This research can be accessed through the Growing Schools website.
How does The Country Trust work?
The Country Trust's scheme is simple, cost-effective and unique. We arrange for schools selected by the Trust from disadvantaged areas of towns and cities to visit hosts chosen by the Trust for their ability to offer children a stimulating glimpse of life in the countryside. The hosts make no charge for these visits, the Trust organizes the visits and helps the schools with the cost of transport and accommodation.
The Country Trust is split into 9 regions: London, South West, Hampshire, South East, East Anglia, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West and North East. Each area has a Regional Manager (see Contact Us) who is responsible for liaising with schools and hosts and for arranging and conducting visits.
A class of children and their teachers spend a whole day or week seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and most importantly learning about the countryside. Their hosts are people from all walks of life who live and work in the countryside. The children and their teachers learn how it is managed and conserved, and where their food comes from. The schools undertake preparatory and follow-up work connected with the visit, and their experiences are linked to many areas of the National Curriculum.
Our objectives
Offering children wider horizons,
Bringing alive the countryside as a place of work,
Educating children and teachers with first hand experiences of sustainable farming, forestry, food production, sound husbandry and care of the environment,
Identifying future job prospects,
Working towards reducing crime and antisocial behavior by giving young people a fuller meaning to their lives, enhancing their appreciation of and respect for others.
