Children from across the north of England will have a chance to feel spongey sphagnum mosses under their feet and see sticky insect-eating sundew plants when the UK’s largest uplands classroom returns this summer.

They will also get to meet hardy Swaledale sheep, see soaring birds of prey and hear the chattering of red grouse and the iconic curlew calling as part of this year’s Let’s Learn Moor events which will be held at eight locations in the north of England between 3-7 July 2023.

Let’s Learn Moor is the UK’s largest annual upland education event, providing an opportunity for children to meet the people and organisations that help to protect our stunning moorland landscapes and species.

Co-ordinated by the Regional Moorland Groups, Countryside Learning and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), and involving more than 50 partner organisations, nearly 10,000 children have been part of Let’s Learn Moor since its launch in 2017.

Almost 3,000 children are set to take part this year.

Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of education and outreach, said: “We are so looking forward to welcoming children back to Let’s Learn Moor this year, we have a huge range of fun and educational activities in store. In previous years, children have “rescued” their teachers with the mountain rescue, solved rural crimes with the police and learned about the importance of the precious carbon-rich peatlands below their feet. Our young guests will also have a chance to sample wild food, with pigeon and venison burgers on the menu. We are very excited to be working alongside Countryside Learning and the Regional Moorland Groups once again to deliver this fantastic event.”

Andrew Gilruth, spokesperson for the Regional Moorland Groups, said: “Let’s Learn Moor is one of the most exciting events in the Regional Moorland Groups’ calendars, and the group co-ordinators are looking forward to meeting this year’s pupils. Each of the events offers different activities depending on the location and on feedback from previous attendees, but perhaps the most important thing is to encourage local youngsters onto the moors and to show them what happens not far from their doorstep.

“Many of these children are unaware of the wildlife and biodiversity on the moors and how humans interact with this wild environment, and it’s fantastic to see and hear how much they gain from the Let’s Learn Moor days. The whole community benefits enormously, and working with BASC and Countryside Learning means we can deliver the best possible day for local children.”

The events involve National Parks, local farmers, emergency services, gamekeepers, water utility companies, conservation groups and many more.