London children's first visit to the Broads

Inner London children had their first taste of the country when they visited the Broads from June 20 to 24.

The 31 children from Havelock Primary School, Southall, most of whom have never left London or their families, have been staying at Hautbois House Residential and Activity Centre in Coltishall in the heart of the Broads.

On Wednesday Broads Authority rangers hosted a special day of activities at Hoveton Riverside Park including trips aboard the Broads Authority’s Edwardian style launch, Liana, and a ranger’s launch, hay raking, mini beast hunting and a Broads discovery trail.

This is one of five educational visits to the Broads being organised by the Country Trust this year. Two of the visits have been subsidised by a £5,400 grant from the Broads Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund.

During the boat trips the children had sightings of an otter with a fish in its mouth, great crested grebes with chicks riding on their backs and feeding them fish, dragonflies, swans and geese.

Broads Authority Education Officer Nick Sanderson, who ran the event said: “This was an opportunity for us to give London children a completely new and unique experience which will widen their horizons. It will be something they will never forget.”

It was clear they had succeeded from comments from the children.

“I love the fresh air,” remarked 10 year old Nadra.

Zohura from Woolmore Primary School, in Tower Hamlets, who came to the Broads on a similar visit in May said: “I have never had so much fun in my life. The best thing was when my group was on the boat and we saw a rare duck. I never thought I would see anything rare in my life. Thank you for making the day so special.”

Imma, also from Woolmore School, commented: ”My class mates and I enjoyed the boat trip especially when I saw the feathery ducks and the green lilypads. It was a great experience. I hope we visit again!”

Another pupil, Fariha, said:” We enjoyed the boat trip because we got to see lovely ducks and massive trees that looked like they were going up to the sky. The river dipping was interesting because we found lots of different insects.”

Bina Murray, Regional Manager for East Anglia at The Country Trust, said: “This was an amazing experience for the children. Some of them have never  been out of the estates they live on. Our aim is to raise their awareness of the countryside, their aspirations and visions for the future and extend their horizons beyond London. They  learn to look after each other, work together, rely on and respect each other.”

At Hautbois House, run by Girlguiding Anglia, the children are orienteering, raft building and taking part in team building initiative tests.

The Broads Authority has introduced children from many local schools to the Broads over the last few years, but these are the first residential visits from London to be run in collaboration with the Country Trust and other partners.

The Country Trust has been bridging the gap between urban and rural communities through showing the working countryside to inner city children, their teachers and parents for 30 years