CHILDREN'S ACCESS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE JOHN CLARE TRUST

Early day motion 1841, tabled 8 July 2009 by Barry Sheerman (Labour). Signed by 46 members.

That this House notes with concern that, according to a recent survey by Natural England, children's access to the English countryside has plummeted by 50 per cent. in a generation; calls for a coordinated campaign to encourage young people to visit the countryside and reclaim their rural birthright; and congratulates the John Clare Trust, which is transforming the English poet's former home in Helpston into a Centre for Learning Outside the Classroom, which will encourage children to learn from their rural environment through exploration of the arts, sciences and literature.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 9, DUP 4, Conservative 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.