Pupils across Pembrokeshire are set to benefit from greater access to outdoor learning thanks to a £16,000 grant recently awarded to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

As part of a partnership between the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools, the funding will enable more children in Pembrokeshire to benefit from outdoor learning opportunities aligned to the new Welsh Curriculum. The funding will also enable a co-ordinator to work with schools and the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools Partnership.

The benefits of being outdoors are widely accepted for improving health and wellbeing, however recent research by the National Trust highlighted that children are playing outside for less than half the time their parents did.

Tom Bean, Education Officer at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority said:

“This funding will help teachers and pupils make the most of outdoor learning opportunities in Pembrokeshire.

“The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife in Britain including internationally important nature reserves, geology and archaeology. The opportunities and resources for powerful learning experiences are abundant in this unique landscape.

“We are proud to have a key role in the Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools network of teachers and strategic partners. The funding will allow us to work together to deliver rich learning experiences, create new curriculum linked resources and give teachers the tools and training they need to access the benefits of the outdoor classroom.

“The network has been very constructive here in Pembrokeshire and also provides a model for working in other areas of Wales and beyond.”

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust aims to protect the National Park for future generations by improving how the land is managed for wildlife, working to meet the challenges of climate change, highlighting the area’s history and culture and ensuring the Park is accessible to all.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and its registered charity number is 1179281.