Northumberland National Park helps to bring nature to the homes of disadvantaged young people

Young people who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic are being provided with ‘at-home’ nature experiences.
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Northumberland National Park has joined forces with the community organisation North East Wilds to create 100 activity boxes that were sent to selected children across the region.

The boxes are designed to help children use their imaginations to connect with nature, with items including Northumberland meadow seeds, star bird feeders, a mobile curlew, a woodcut printmaking kit, grow your own basil set, a jigsaw, and make your own Boggart kit.

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Northumberland National Park engagement officer, Caroline Cope, said: “We fully understand the role that the Park and the outdoors plays in improving our physical and mental wellbeing. Everybody deserves access to our unique landscapes and nature.

Activity boxes have been sent to disadvantaged young people in the North East.Activity boxes have been sent to disadvantaged young people in the North East.
Activity boxes have been sent to disadvantaged young people in the North East.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with North East Wilds to inspire the region’s younger generation through nature and we are keen to help those who can’t regularly access the Park to connect them with the natural world in any way we can.”

North East Wilds project coordinator, Bryony Jones said: “We are so excited to have the National Park on board for this project. Like everyone, we’ve fallen victim to the pandemic and have had to adapt to the times when it comes to helping our young people connect with the outdoors.

“These activity boxes are the first step in providing a taste of what nature has to offer when things return to normal and how it can be of a great benefit to their physical and mental wellbeing.”

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