UK’s largest upland education initiative gears up for 2025

Let’s Learn Moor, the UK’s largest upland classroom, returns at the end of June to inspire thousands of schoolchildren about the importance of moorland conservation and land management.

Let’s Learn Moor (LLM) is a collaborative educational project which is overseen by BASC and supported by the BASC Legacy Fund. Events are facilitated by the Regional Moorland Groups and private estates across northern England with the support of more than 50 other partners.

Over the course of the events, children from urban and rural schools will engage directly with those who manage and protect the UK’s moorland landscapes, gaining first-hand knowledge about conservation, biodiversity, and rural careers.

LLM 2025 is made possible thanks to financial support from the BASC Legacy Fund, ensuring that children from a range of backgrounds can take part in this vital educational initiative. The programme continues to grow each year, with a record number of schools set to participate.

Jo Pearson, co-ordinator of the Calderdale Moorland Group, said: “I think I speak for all of the Regional Moorland Groups and their co-ordinators in saying that we are really excited to be welcoming pupils back to the moors for Let’s Learn Moor 2025. 

“It’s such a pleasure to see children learning about the moors that many of them live so close to, but may not have a chance to visit on any other occasion. To watch them learn about the jobs and events that happen in the uplands, day-in, day-out, is wonderful, and the pupils seem to take so much away from the days. Whether it’s learning about wildfire risks, the countryside code, why sheep are shorn or how long peat takes to form, it’s all done in a fun and hands-on way. 

“It’s always great to see new schools joining us, and  equally, the fact that other schools return year after year just goes to show that teachers and pupils both value the experience that Let’s Learn Moor provides.”

Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of education and outreach, said: “Let’s Learn Moor is a remarkable project which has grown from humble beginnings to the largest upland education project in the UK and we’re incredibly excited for its return this summer and to once again collaborate with the Regional Moorland Groups, private estates and educational partners Countryside Learning. 

“Children from more than 70 schools will be attending events across the region, and importantly for us, many of those children are from urban areas and without projects like Let’s Learn Moor, they would be unlikely to get the opportunity to visit moorland areas and meet the passionate people to live and work on them.

“We all have a responsibility to engage with young people and empower them by equipping them with the knowledge and experiences to support their decision making as they grow. This message could be as simple as keeping their dog on a lead at critical times for ground nesting birds, or the wildfire risk posed by disposable barbeques, but fundamentally they appreciate how to enjoy our beautiful moorlands without the risk to its biodiversity.”

You can find out more about Let’s Learn Moor on our dedicated pages here.