XN000022-1980-06-17 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1980

YOUNG PEOPLE JOIN COUNTRYSIDE CARE PROGRAMME

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OVER 1 300 YOUNG NATURE LOVERS ARE JOINING THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL FORESTRY WORK CAMP PROGRAMME THIS YEAR.

NOW IN ITS 15TH YEAR, THE PROGRAMME, ORGANISED WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ENABLES YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN CONSERVATION WORK.

DURING JULY AND AUGUST THERE WILL BE 75 CAMPS, EACH LASTING SIX DAYS. BETWEEN 15 AND 18 YOUNG PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART IN EACH CAMP UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF ADULT LEADERS.

THEY WILL SPEND THE MORNING WORKING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH PICKS AND SPADES. THE WORK INCLUDES PLANTING AND TENDING TREES, INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY PARKS AND CLEARING FOOTPATHS AND FIREBREAKS.

+BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK IN A HEALTHY AND SCENIC ENVIRONMENT THEY WILL DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND GREATER CONCERN FOR IT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID.

HE SAID THEY WOULD BE BEAUTIFYING THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS HELPING WITH IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE WORK SUCH AS PREVENTING SOIL EROSION.

+BY CLEARING THE GROWTH ON FOOTPATHS AND FIREBREAKS, THEY WILL HELP LESSEN THE RISK OF FIRE NEXT WINTER,+ HE EXPLAINED.

FOR THE REST OF THE DAY ACTIVITIES ARE USUALLY ENTERTAINING AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL. THE GROUP LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROGRAMME PLANNING.

INTERESTING ECOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY PROJECTS, VISITS TO VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS AND PRACTICAL LESSONS ON FIRST AID AND MOUNTAINEERING SAFETY ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE AFTERNOONS,

IN THE EVENINGS, THE PARTICIPANTS CAN RELAX IN THE OPEN AIR

AND LEARN ABOUT ASTRONOMY OR ENJOY THE CAMPFIRE AND

BARBECUES, AS A TREAT AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK.

+WE HOPE TO MAKE THE WORK CAMP A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR

THOSE WHO TAKE PART,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE CAMPS ARE ONE OF THE MANY CONSERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAMMES CONDUCTED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. +WE ALSO HOLD EXHIBITIONS, ARRANGE SCHOOL VISITS AND ORGANISE LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMPS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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