Bowland is a landscape for learning, at any stage of life. There are many opportunities to provide rewarding educational experiences for children and young people, to develop lifelong-learning programmes for adults, and to ensure that essential skills are passed on and expanded.
As well as reaching local young people, there is acknowledged benefit, and work on which to build, to ensure that children in surrounding towns see Bowland as their own learning landscape. Learning doesn’t stop when we leave formal education. There is considerable scope for using Bowland as a place to provide lifelong learning opportunities in nature and heritage. Similarly, citizen science projects can enrich people's lives and add to the pool of knowledge about this special place.
Conserving and enhancing the distinctive qualities and character of the landscape requires the maintenance of skills which underpin land management and nature conservation. These include ‘traditional’ skills like drystone walling, hedge laying, moorland and woodland management, but also developing the skills and knowledge necessary for nature-friendly, economically viable farming to thrive. In addition, knowledge and expertise in nature conservation – field survey, peatland restoration, the management of rivers and wetlands – all need to be expanded. There should be increased opportunities for formal training and apprenticeships, peer-to-peer learning and greater sharing of knowledge, ideas and skills.
