Education and interpretation case studies from England
Key points from the presentations of Orlando Rutter (Dartmoor) and Julie Lawrence (North York Moors)
There is an enormous breadth and depth of thoughtful and reflective work across national parks which makes a major contribution to national agendas including health, education and inclusion. There were 72,000 students taken out by the English parks in 06-07, and most parks have visitor centres. But education and interpretation are about more than trips and signs.
Inspiration is what the parks are about - we are committed to opening doors and changing lives. Examples include Tears to Cheers – six weeks to get young people into the countryside (Broads) and Tracks and Trees – a creative experiential theatre project (Exmoor).
Partnerships are a key means of delivery. For example the outdoor science project to enhance the curriculum (New Forest) and the Hadrian’s Wall education forum, a partnership to including museums and English Heritage which delivered among other things the Pax Britannica living history project (Northumberland).
Conservation work is a powerful way of connecting and teaching (and achieving the first purpose of national parks) and there are examples across the parks, including: the Ratcliffe special school’s long-term link (Dartmoor); the Hall Garth Community Arts College alternative education group heritage connections project (North York Moors), and the Fix the Fells campaign and conservation project (Lake District).
Beyond the Boundary brought together cricket-lovers from Bradford and the Dales
Social inclusion is a key priority for parks. Direct experience breaks down barriers. The Moorland Discovery Centre is run in partnership, featuring audio trails (Peak District) and sited close to urban populations, with public transport links. The unusual Beyond the Boundary project twinned Bradford and Dales communities with a common interest in cricket (Yorkshire Dales) to introduce them to the park. Nationally the Mosaic Partnership has made great strides in developing long term engagement through both community champions and organisational capacity.
Interpretation forges emotional and intellectual connections between parks and their audiences and relates directly to their purposes of promoting enjoyment and understanding. National parks provide both information and interpretation.
Across the parks it goes beyond sign boards, taking in projects including:
- Visitor centre with an ‘inspired by’ art gallery for local exhibitors (North York Moors);
- Films covering attractions and scenery, or issues (New Forest);
- ‘Love is in the Air’ Bollywood film festival (Yorkshire Dales);
- ‘Snakes and Ladders’ and access – an interactive game for country shows (Exmoor);
- Community art projects such as the interactive ‘Stell people enclosure’ sculpture (Northumberland);
- Sculpture including boundary markers – local materials (New Forest) and panoramas (Cairngorms); and
- New technology using websites, podcasts, webcams and audio trails.
