EVERY CHILD'S RIGHT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 512, tabled 14 July 2010 by Barry Sheerman (Labour). Signed by 25 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 co-ordinated campaign to encourage young people to visit the countryside, reclaim their rural birthright and encourage schools to develop an active programme for out of school learning; 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 16, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 3, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.