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Midlands Revealed As Best Place To Hold A Scary Beast

Published: 2nd May 2013 09:16

To celebrate the launch of its 2013 list of ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾' the National Trust has identified the best places around the UK for outdoor adventures, with the Midlands selected as the best place to hold a scary beast.

Children enjoy holding a scary beast © National TrustIn a bid to help children reconnect with nature, the charity asked more than 1,700 kids to vote on their top ten outdoor activities from the list and reasons why, and then set about finding the ultimate places where they could be enjoyed.  Holding a scary beast, like a frog or a spider, made the top 10 with 70% of children agreeing that it's fun and exciting.

Over half of the children questioned (63 per cent) chose tree climbing, den building and bike riding as the top three activities to get them into the great outdoors. Nearly all parents (96 per cent) agreed these activities helped to strengthen their child's relationship with the natural world.  

In Derbyshire, all three of these popular activities, and many others, can be done at Hardwick Hall and Ilam Park. Den Building and Tree Climbing can be done at Calke Abbey, Longshaw Estate, and Kedleston Hall, while you can climb a tree at Dovedale.

The research also revealed that adults share the same love of outdoor adventures as children, but four in five (83 per cent) of parents reported that their child spends less time playing outdoors than they did at their age.  Almost three quarters (73 per cent) blamed the rise in technology as the main obstacle for boys and over a third (71 per cent) claimed concerns over safety prevent girls from enjoying the great outdoors.  Nearly three quarters (71 per cent) of parents agree that active adventures, such as tree climbing, are the best way to get their children playing outside.

Following last year's success, the list of 50 outdoors adventures from National Trust staff has been updated for 2013. Fifteen new experiences were suggested by children across the country over the 2012 summer holidays, including star gazing and daisy chain making. Over 40,000 kids signed up to the initiative in its launch last year.

Kai Bickley, aged 7, National Trust Kids Council member © The Bickley family

Overall the top ten activities and best places in the Midlands to experience them are:

• 1. Go on a really long bike ride - Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
• 2. Build a den - Croome, Worcestershire
• 3. Climb a tree - Clent Hills, Worcestershire
• 4. Cook on a campfire (organised events only) - Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire
• 5. Hunt for fossils and bones - Kinver Edge, Staffordshire
• 6. Discover what's in a pond - Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire
• 7. Track wild animals - Brockhampton Estate, Herefordshire
• 8. Hold a scary beast - Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
• 9. Go bird watching - Belton House, Lincolnshire
• 10. Go on a walk barefoot - Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

You can find a 50 things activity at a National Trust place near you in the Midlands by downloading a free 50 things planner from www.nationaltrust.org.uk/midlands50things.

Kai Bickley aged 7, one of the National Trust Kids Council members from the Midlands, commented:

"I've really enjoyed completing the 50 things to do. My favourites were building a den and hunting for fossils and bones. The new 50 things list is even better, and I loved canoeing down a river, but I can't wait to go on a barefoot walk.  Actually, I cannot decide which my favourite one will be!"

Beccy Speight, regional director for the National Trust in the Midlands, commented:

"We are passionate about getting children outdoors and we want to encourage kids everywhere to play outside and connect with nature, so we're thrilled at how many under 12s have been engaging with the 50 things initiative.  This inspired us to source the nation's best activities and we hope our new list and ‘best of' recommendations will encourage even more kids into the great outdoors this spring."

To help kids tick off their list, over the summer the National Trust has over 7,000 50-things-inspired activities taking place around the UK, with hundreds of events happening over this bank holiday weekend  To find out more about the 50 things adventures visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50things.

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