Young people from towns across the South West  ‘find themselves’ on Exmoor

25 young people (aged 16-25) from Bideford, Barnstaple, Bristol and Bridgewater descended on the wide open spaces of Exmoor National Park this week to enjoy a couple of days of adventure, personal challenge and self discovery.    

The youngsters, many of whom had never been to a National Park before, spent two days horse riding and rock climbing, undertaking conservation tasks as well as learning new skills such as map reading and night navigation.  At the same time they were there to meet other young people and develop leadership skills.  The event was rounded off with a game of cricket with Exford cricket club. 

Organised by the Campaign for National Parks as part of its Mosaic Programme the event demonstrated how National Parks can be used to help young people develop life skills and build leadership qualities in an outdoors environment.   

Kaylie Cole, 19 from Bideford was one of the young people attending.  She commented after the event: ‘The horse riding was a real challenge for me, but also a highlight.  It’s been great to meet and get involved with other young people.  Now we just need to get more of them onto Exmoor!’   

The group of youngsters also spent time working alongside National Trust warden Marcus Wilde in Heddon Valley.  Marcus was full of praise for the youngsters: ‘I think they have done really well. They have been a great help to our conservation efforts for dormice, with coppicing of hazel trees and invasive species control in the area.’

The young people are from a variety of backgrounds and were drawn from Devon Youth Service, Young Devon, Bristol West Indian Cricket Club and Somerset Youth Volunteering network.  All agreed however that the Exmoor National Park was a fantastic environment to meet people, learn new skills and try out something different. 

One of the aims of Mosaic is to create a generation of ‘Young Champions’ that have the skills and confidence to promote the National Parks of England and Wales to their peers.  By getting young people out into beautiful landscapes and trying their hand at new activities Mosaic is giving many young people access to opportunities that would not normally be open to them.  

To interview a ‘Young Champion’ or to learn more about the Mosaic project contact:

David Rolls (Mosaic Officer), 0793 509 9462, david@cnp.org.uk

Nina Arwitz (Mosaic Programme Manager), 020 7924 4077 ext 227, nina@cnp.org.uk  

For media enquiries contact:

Jo Hall (Communications Manager), 020 7924 4077 ext 224 / 0781 758 2488, jo@cnp.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

· In 2011 the Campaign for National Parks will celebrate 75 years of working to protect and promote the National Parks of England and Wales. Today the charity is the lead player in safeguarding these iconic landscapes for future generations to enjoy.  For further information about the Campaign for National Parks visit www.cnp.org.uk

· Mosaic is led by the Campaign for National Parks, in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association and nine National Park Authorities in England.  For more information about Mosaic visit www.mosaicnationalparks.org

Location: Exmoor
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