Twitter updates, Facebook pages, iPod-guided walks and YouTube are being used in a new campaign to encourage more young people to visit the countryside.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 29 Jul 09;
The Campaign for National Parks is launching a three year project using the latest technology to target younger people and ethnic minorities.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act of Parliament which enabled the creation of the National Parks for "the public benefit and the enjoyment of all".
However, there are concerns that the original purpose has been lost, with few young people or ethnic minorities even aware that they can visit some of the most beautiful areas of the country for free.
The £1.7 million Government-funded "Mosaic Project" will create "community champions" from religious organisations, youth or women's groups to promote national parks, of which there are 14, including the Lake District, Exmoor and the Cairngorms.
Park authorities and youth hostels will be asked to promote their services in urban and cultural centres and cater more for particular ethnic minority needs. Twitter updates on the activities available, Facebook pages for each National Park, and audio walks that can be downloaded onto an iPod will also be developed.
Ben Fogle, President of the Campaign for National Parks, said 10 per cent of the population are from ethnic minority groups but only one per cent of people visiting National Parks come from this group.
He also said few children from inner city areas have visited the countryside – yet every major city has a National Park nearby, including London following the creation of the South Downs earlier this year.
"If you think about the National Parks the majority of people who visit tend to be older and white middle class," he said. " I do not know why or how this has happened – I suspect it is down to transport infrastructure making it difficult to get to these places – but it is also about knowledge and access to knowledge about the National Parks.
"So I feel that the use of Twitter and Facebook and modern forms of communication that appeal to younger generations are the way forward."
Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Natural Environment Minister, agreed it was important to try to "break down barriers".
"Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and to get close to nature. Green spaces are good for our health and wellbeing," he said.
