Children's mental health could be at risk if proposals to close school trip centres Bewerley Park and East Barnby press ahead, North Yorkshire County Council warned

Bewerley Park in Nidderdale and East Barnby near Whitby, both owned and run by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), have seen generations of schoolchildren take part in trips filled with activities including rock climbing, den building and kayaking.

But NYCC have said both centres have become unviable due to the pandemic, and are in need of repair. They have proposed a consultation with schools into their future and say "nothing is off the table" in regards to decisions to keep them open.

The centres are forecast to be in deficit of some £984,000 by the end of this financial year as trips have been unable to take place.

Stacey Howard, an outdoor education specialist instructor who has been visiting both centres with schools for over twenty years, has now started a petition to save the centres from closure which has reached over 1800 signatures in less than 24 hours.

She said “I’m absolutely gutted, horrified and dazed that the council are even thinking about closing Bewerley Park.

“Of course it’s been heavily hit by covid but it’s an absolutely vital resource for the recovery of mental health & activity in children.

“The activities aren’t just about having a go - they’re a full learning curve, it’s the lifeskills that go with them.”

A report to North Yorkshire County Council's executive states while many schools had indicated they hoped to visit the centres in the spring and summer terms, current guidance would prevent these from taking place.

The Outdoor Learning Service, which funds its £2.2m annual cost largely through charging for residential visits, was forced to close last March. However, with annual staff costs of £1.5m it is facing a deficit of nearly £1m unless immediate action is taken to mothball the centres and cut its 42 staff, some of whom it is hoped can be redeployed to other council roles.

The report states: "The greatest impact is on children and young people having restricted access to the outdoors and outdoor learning opportunities. Purposeful experiences in the outdoors can be a catalyst for powerful and memorable learning. Education visits advisers in the school improvement service will continue to work with schools on maximising the potential of learning outside the classroom - in the local area."

The report to executive states it is expected there will be a time lag between an announcement of a change in government guidance and schools being able to undertake visits following planning with parents and staff.

The authority's executive member for education Councillor Patrick Mulligan said the service had been "left on its knees" by the Covid pandemic and deciding whether or not to mothball the centres would be tough.

He said: "Visits to these centres are something people treasure through their lives, but we're haemorrhaging money and have got to find a short-term solution until we have a strategic review and see where that leads."

Amanda Newbold, Assistant Director for Education and Skills said: “We have set out why we are looking to review the future of the outdoor learning service linked to the financial impact of the pandemic and whether continuing to patch-up the post-war temporary buildings making up the estates is the best use of public money.”