A CHOLMONDELEY-based company has welcomed the ‘roadmap’ announcements that will get children outside once more.

Since March 2020, more than 30,000 children from across Cheshire have missed out on vital emotional, social and physical experiences that are imperative to building confidence, developing resilience and encouraging team players and team leaders.

The Bushcraft Company, which operates school trips in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle,called for an urgent action and a roadmap to get this vital element of the education sector moving again.

Nigel Miller, chief executive officer of Bushcraft parent company Active Learning Group (ALG, believes that the mental health of young people has been so severely affected by the three lockdowns of the last 12 months, was delighted to see some change.

He said: “We are delighted to hear that outdoor sport and extra-curricular learning can start again on March 29, and that it has been considered as an integral part of the roadmap out of lockdown.

“The decision to unlock young people’s sport and outdoor recreation, just ahead of the Easter holidays, comes as welcome relief to so many people – our school teachers, our parents and our children.

“For far too long, children in the UK have been kept indoors to stop the spread of Covid. Unable to socialise with their friends and peers, participate in team sports or hone skills they enjoy or even getting the basic level of exercise recommended by government, our young people have been severely impacted.

“As screen time has increased, social and physical time has decreased, resulting in devastating mental and physical health issues such as depression and obesity.

“We look forward to a safe spring and summer where activities, exploration and fun in the great outdoors become part of all of our lives, but particularly part of our young people’s daily lives. Rest assured ALG will be doing its bit to ensure we reduce the number of hours our young people spend inside and on screens and increase their physical time outdoors in the knowledge that it will help with their mental health.

“And, by reconnecting our young people with each other we will hopefully see a marked improvement on their emotional wellbeing.”