A LAKE District school has won plaudits for its inventive method of conveying the Countryside Code.
Children at Grasmere School and Nursery starred in a short film containing a number of ‘top tips’ for responsible behaviour in the countryside.
The video sees them don sheep outfits to warn of the threats posed to livestock by dogs, while Nick Owen, of Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, steps in to help the children spread the word about safety on the fells.
Headteacher Johanna Goode said: “The children and the whole of our school community were feeling very lucky to have been here [in the Lake District] all through the last year.
“We were aware of some problems that had happened in the autumn, and the children wanted to get the message across that we do want to be welcoming people to our national park, but there’s some things you need to know if you’re coming here.
“We were trying to get them to imagine if you lived in the city and you’re looking at the Lake District, what misconceptions might you have about it?”
The film, which is about five-minutes long, was filmed and produced by Janine Bebbington, of Gorgeous Media.
“We’ve got an idea of what we want to do, but she can see how it could be made into a really watchable film,” said Mrs Goode.
The children at the school are rapidly gaining a reputation for their acting prowess, winning admiration last year for their novel take on the Christmas Nativity.
MESSAGE: The children filming with Nick Owen, of Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team. Picture: Jonathan Smith, Grasmere School
In a video - conjured up amid a much-changed Christmas season during the coronavirus pandemic - the children asked themselves what would have happened if Joseph and the Virgin Mary had arrived in Cumbria in search of a place to stay during 2020.
“Last time it was all about not looking at the camera, but this time it was all about ‘look straight into the camera because you’re presenting a message’,” said Mrs Goode.
“We wanted to represent the community’s concerns and what they wanted to get out there. We went to [South Lakes farmer] Peter Bland and said what would farmers want to get across here?
“It feels like we’ve got the message out.”
‘Grasmere School’s Handy Guide to Cracking the Countryside Code’ is available to watch on YouTube.
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