A CARLISLE nature reserve has been awarded a £60,000 grant aimed at helping get young people outdoors.

Watchtree Nature Reserve, which is located southwest of Carlisle, was among ten charities and non-profit organisations awarded the money by UK educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust.

The grant will be spread across three years and will fund the salary of an outdoor learning officer who will run the reserve's education and wellbeing provision.

The grant will also enable the nature reserve to become an outdoor education centre of excellence and provide outdoor learning to the community, with this project aimed at around 1,350 local children and young people and utilising Watchtree's 205 acres of land.

Ryan Dobson, manager of Watchtree Nature Reserve, said: "We are thrilled to receive support from Ernest Cook for the continuation and growth of our Education and Wellbeing services.

"Demand for high-quality outdoor-based learning and well-being experiences is increasing, this funding enables us to focus the provision on specific community needs and marginalised groups without imposing financial barriers on potential service users."

Ed Ikin, chief executive of the Ernest Cook Trust added: "At The Ernest Cook Trust, we’ve developed real expertise and have a growing body of evidence to prove that our principles of Outdoor Learning genuinely improve the lives of young people.

"We share this approach through our Outdoor Learning Officers Grant, which supports organisations to employ inspirational role models for young people in outdoor settings."