Caving is one of the activities on offer under the Go Dales! scheme

In the week when Britain’s youth was accused of being terrified of the countryside, a national park scheme to give youngsters a taste of the outdoors has reached a grand milestone.

The Go Dales! project has signed a up a taker for its 1,000th session in the scheme that gives young people a chance to experience adventure activities.

The scheme encourages 14- to 25-year-olds to take part in activities in the Yorkshire Dales, ranging from climbing, horse riding and kayaking to caving, cycling and sailing. Young people can also help the national park authority’s rangers in their work.

Go Dales! Project Officer Kath Needham said: “I’m really pleased with the success of Go Dales!

“We have managed to help a lot of young people from the Keighley, Bradford, Craven and Richmond areas to try things they have never done before.”

Some of the participants are working towards the discovery level award run by the John Muir Trust.

“We have recently started working with a young parents group from Skipton to show what can be achieved walking both with and without the children,” Ms Needham added.

“And this month we have a group of women from Craven and Richmondshire aiming for their silver National Navigation Award after gaining their bronze in the spring.”

Ms Needham said Go Dales! is particularly keen to hear from groups of young women aged between 18 and 25 who live in the project area and who would like to try out some of the activities on offer.

She can be contacted at the national park office at Grassington, on 01756 751600 or by email.

The National Trust has launched its Outdoor Nation project to encourage Britons into the countryside after surveys found teenagers believed bacon came from sheep and they were more familiar with a Dalek than a magpie.