Children should be allowed to get up to mischief in the countryside by starting fires, trespassing and scrumping, according to Springwatch presenters Chris Packham and Bill Oddie, as they blame a risk-averse culture for “killing childhood”.
Parents’ unwillingness to let their children indulge in potentially dangerous activities in the great outdoors has wiped out an entire “species” of nature-loving youngsters, they claim.
As BBC’s Springwatch programme celebrates its 10th birthday, Packham and Oddie told Radio Times that children need to be able to misbehave in woods and fields, away from fussing adults.
Oddie, 72, goes far enough to suggest that young people should break the law by straying into gardens and orchards to steal apples.
He also questioned a current campaign by the National Trust – 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ – in which adults and children take part in activities together, saying it does not encouraging children to get away from older generations.
Barn behöver alltså vara ute i naturen.
Ensamma.
Utan tillsyn.
Och göra dumma saker.
Tanken svindlar.
Tysta tankar 