Britons terrified of the countryside

City dwellers are so disconnected from outdoor life that they risk becoming terrified of the countryside, the National Trust has warned.

The trust has launched a six-month nationwide project to find out if the UK public is losing touch with the outdoors.

It follows a series of studies that have shown a growing disconnection between people and the natural environment.

“As a nation we seem to be increasingly disconnected from the fabric of the country,” said trust director general Fiona Reynolds.

“There is a real danger of a ‘generational gap’ opening up where young people feel terrified at the prospect of going into the countryside.”

She referred to recent reports which had shown that 64% of children played outside less than once a week.

The reports also showed that children were more likely to recognise a Dalek than a magpie and 26% of teenagers believed that bacon came from sheep.

At the same time, one third of all under 16s avoided playing outdoors because they didn’t want to get their clothes dirty.

The trust is calling on government ministers to help bridge the growing gap between people and the natural environment.

It has also launched an “Outdoor Nation” website to encourage more people to get out into the countryside.

A roving reporter will travel across the country talking to people and organisations about their experiences of the outdoors.

The unfolding journey will be reported at http://www.outdoornation.org.uk with video interviews and a blog, with opportunities for users to comment on findings.