"Go outside and get dirty, National Trust tells children"

The Wild Child Campaign was launched by the National Trust to co-inside with the summer holidays. What fantastic news! We totally agree..."Children should play outside and get dirty according to the National Trust, which is to campaign to get couch potato youngsters off the sofa. The rise of childhood obesity and increasing ignorance about nature has prompted fears that many are being robbed of a healthy and active childhood. In response, the National Trust is to hold more than 1,000 events at its properties around the country, designed to let children get their hands dirty" (Louise Gray, environment correspondent -The daily telegraph, Saturday February 21)

"If children do not get first hand experience of the real world there will be problems later on with emotional and physical resilience" said Sue Palmer author of Toxic Childhood

For more information on the activity program and campaign see www.nationaltrust.org.uk