Calderdale Schoolchildren Explore the Uplands with Let's Learn Moor 2026
Schoolchildren from across Calderdale took part in an unforgettable outdoor learning experience as part of Let's Learn Moor 2026, the UK's largest upland education initiative, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Held over two days on 2 and 3 July on the moors above Calderdale in West Yorkshire, the event welcomed children from local schools, who engaged directly with gamekeepers, conservationists, water and land managers, and the emergency services. The hands-on experiences gave young people a unique insight into the people and practices that help to protect and manage the UK's upland landscapes.
Among this year's highlights was a new bee-keeping stand, introducing pupils to the pollinators that underpin healthy moorland, alongside a gun dog demonstration and sessions with gamekeepers. Children also met firefighters from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the team from Yorkshire Water, gaining a rounded picture of the many organisations that work on and around the moors. The weather offered its own lesson in resilience, with a windy first day giving way to brighter conditions on day two.
Let's Learn Moor is a collaborative educational project, with events facilitated by the Regional Moorland Groups and private estates across northern England and the support of more than 50 partners. The project is overseen by BASC and made possible through BASC's legacy fund.
Through immersive outdoor learning, students explore the rich biodiversity and unique habitats of the uplands, gaining first-hand experience of the landscapes they are helping to understand and protect. From peatland ecosystems to moorland wildlife, the programme continues to provide meaningful opportunities for young people from both urban and rural communities.
Since its launch in 2016, Let's Learn Moor has become a flagship countryside education programme, introducing almost 14,000 children to the environmental, cultural and economic importance of the UK's uplands. This year, close to 2,500 children are expected to take part across eight venues, marking a significant milestone in the programme's anniversary year.
Nick Spence of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Risk Reduction Calderdale District Team said: “Fantastic two-day attendance again, supporting the Calderdale Moorland Group’s Let’s Learn Moor event and providing wildfire and water awareness. Key messages for water safety highlighted ‘Cold Water Shock’ and ‘Float to Live’, with excellent engagement from all the attending schools as we explained the dangers of open water swimming, especially with the warmer weather coming up.”
Mr Satterthwaite of Barrowford Primary School said: “We have had a very enjoyable and informative trip. It has been engaging, fun and educational for the children, with activities and lessons in water and fire safety, dogs and herding sheep.”
Claire Warrener, a graduate SSSI surveyor for Yorkshire Water, said: “It was a lovely two days educating children on the work we do on our moorlands and how important it is to look after them, not only for water quality but for the wildlife as well. The children loved doing all the experiments with the sphagnum moss.”
Let's Learn Moor ensures that young people from a wide range of backgrounds can access high-quality outdoor education experiences that deepen their understanding of conservation, biodiversity and rural land management.
Let's Learn Moor 2026 takes place from Monday 29 June to Friday 10 July across northern England.
For more information about Let's Learn Moor and its impact, visit https://basc.org.uk/lets-learn-moor/