Activity campaign unveiled by National Trust

The National Trust is launching a major drive to encourage people to get active in a variety of ways to enjoy the great outdoors and get closer to nature.

Walking is to be the main focus of its outdoors activity campaign in 2011.

This will include working with local communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop 100 miles of new walking routes, which will form part of a major outdoor celebration being planned for 22-30 October this year. The celebration will include mass participation events and will launch the National Trust’s commitment to develop 1,000 miles of new trails by 2020.

‘It’s clear that people simply love being outdoors surrounded by nature and walking is the easiest way to do that,’ said Jo Burgon, the charity’s outdoors programme director.

Mountain biking, kayaking, surfing and camping are among other activities being promoted by the National Trust on the land it manages.

More than 1,000 events are being planned this summer to help children get ‘closer to nature’.

Fiona Reynolds, the National Trust’s director-general, said: ‘We want to play our part in helping to reconnect the nation with outdoor spaces, whether in the Lake District or a local park.’