Our education work focuses on schools and young people across Cumbria, taking them out to directly experience the outdoor classroom through hands-on activities. It also helps them to develop longer-term sustainable links with their local wildlife sites. It's a chance to explore a ‘wilder' place, discover what makes it special, from tiny arctic alpine flowers or mosses which have survived since the last ice age to habitats and the geological, natural and human impacts that shape the landscape.

We work mainly with primary schools but also with secondary schools as well as organising events for families and young people. Activities and projects link to the national curriculum and are generally cross-curricula. Young people can get involved in conserving and protecting environments through hands on work, surveying or producing interpretive materials which can be shared with other students, parents and the community. In 2010 we developed a Climate Change Education Resource for work with schools and groups. Some schools take part in the John Muir Award www.johnmuiraward.org as part of their projects with us.

Aims of the project: To increase understanding, awareness and enjoyment of Cumbria's uplands and highlight the many and varied benefits they provide for us all.

To explain why these landscapes and environments are key to health and well being of the landscape, ecosystems, communities, people, economy and natural resources of the region.

To help show why public support and funding is needed to help farmers and others who manage the land to make enhancements and safeguard vulnerable habitats as well as help improve water quality, reduce flooding and lock up carbon.

To help shape both vision and policies towards more sustainable upland land management in Cumbria.

To highlight good examples of sustainable land management in Cumbria and elsewhere.

To highlight the impacts that climate change is having on the upland landscapes and the benefits they provide, and show how we can help reduce these impacts.