Meeting room heritage charity suggests children should get outdoors

The National Trust is aiming to get today’s ‘cotton wool kids’ back out doors again.

A new report from the charity has found a long-term decline in the relationship between children and the great outdoors.

The National Trust believes urgent action must be taken before it is too late.

Director-General of the National Trust, Fiona Reynolds says: “Getting outdoors and closer to nature has all sorts of benefits for our children. It keeps them fit, they can learn about the world around them and, most of all, it’s fun.

“That’s why it’s so worrying that so many children today don’t have the opportunity to experience the outdoors and nature. Building a den, picking flowers, climbing trees – the outdoors is a treasure trove, rich in imagination. It brings huge benefits that we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience and there are huge costs when they don’t.”

But according to a spokesperson for website TyntesfieldEstate.com: “It’s a little bit of a joke considering one of their property managers once got lost walking around their own property. If they are advocating getting children outside they should practice what they preach.”