A campaign led by Northumberland National Park on social media is bringing the unique qualities of the landscape, wildlife, and environment of the Park to people at home through a range of content and activities.
#OutdoorsIndoors, which launched when the initial two-week lockdown began, is helping people adjust to the now indefinite confinement, as research shows that nature and the outdoors help reduce stress and anxiety.
The Park is providing entertainment, education and creative activities around the environment, landscape and wildlife, on your screens at home.
It includes engaging blogs, videos and live events highlighting stargazing, wildlife and history, led by the Park’s team of experts.
The activities on offer include:
• New learning resources made available every Monday for parents to download and use with their children to learn about nature and the environment.
• Tweet Tuesdays where ecologists share information and insights to the birds of Northumberland, including advice on how you can spot and hear different species and any unique features of the bird.
• Wild Wednesdays which includes advice and inspiration on the wildlife of Northumberland, and how you can encourage wildlife to visit your garden, as well as how you can help protect vulnerable species.
• Stargazing from home – bringing the Northumberland International Dark Skies Park to home with advice and lessons on what you’ll be able to see from your own garden.
• Digital tours of beauty spots in the Park, using Google Maps, with guidance and insight from Park Rangers.
• Local history lessons and blogs – explore the deep, and colourful history of the region, as historical officers show how you can bring the past to life at home.
• Junior Rangers content – showing how children and young people are doing their Ranger work at home, from crafts to gardening.
• A range of competitions and quizzes including an art competition judged by Lost Words artist Jackie Morris, and a story-writing competition judged by Storytelling Laureate Taffy Thomas.
Rosie Thomas, Director of Business Development at Northumberland National Park Authority says:
“Before the lockdown, Northumberland National Park was a place to come to clear the mind, improve mental wellbeing and connect with nature and the outdoors, and we are continuing to provide that opportunity through this campaign. Our amazing team, who are so used to being out and about in the Park, are bringing their expertise to the public in some brilliantly creative ways, and I would like to thank everyone involved in keeping the Park going.
The Outdoors Indoors campaign will be more than just a theme of social media posts, but a place to escape, to learn, and engage with nature, regardless of circumstance, location or age – the Park, and this campaign, is for everyone.”
Members of the public have already embraced the campaign, with one fan saying “Your posts are a breath of fresh air during this lockdown”.
The launch of the campaign follows the closure of all buildings and facilities within the Park, and the cancellation of all upcoming events until further notice due to the lockdown.
In line with new government rules, no one should be visiting the Park, and all car parks are currently closed to the public.
All content from the campaign can be found on the Northumberland National Park Facebook Page, Instagram (@NorthumberlandNationalPark), and Twitter (@NLandNP) using the hashtag #OutdoorsIndoors.
