A group of advisors – made up entirely of children- is being recruited by the National Trust to provide advice on how to get more of the nation’s children outdoors.

The idea follows the charity’s recent Natural Childhood Report and 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ campaign, and shows the Trust stepping up its game in encouraging children to explore the outdoors and get closer to nature.

The National Trust is looking to sign up ten children aged between seven and twelve to the council where they will play an important role in developing the charity’s outdoor campaigns, and making their properties more fun for younger visitors.

Ideally there will be a member on the Kids’ Council from every Trust region across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, although this can’t be guaranteed.

Debbie Peers, spokesperson for the Trust in the North West region said: “The perfect candidate to sit on the Kids’ Council will be brimming with enthusiasm and fun, with a natural love for the outdoors and fresh air. Potential applicants should also have an adventurous spirit and a wild imagination - a fondness for rolling down hills or jumping in muddy puddles would be considered a bonus!

Check out our ’50 Things to Do before you’re 11 & ¾’ here in the North West at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northwest and see what you could do outdoors - you might get some ideas for the Kids’ Council!”

To offer children a chance to try out the National Trust and get inspiration on what they would like to change if they were appointed to the Kid’s Council, the Trust will open up its doors to children for free for the whole month of August.

Over 200 places will be free of charge to children, giving them the opportunity to explore National Trust places across the country. Properties open in the North West include Dunham Massey in Cheshire, Speke Hall in Liverpool, Sizergh Castle in Cumbria and Rufford Old Hall in Lancashire. 

The successful Kids’ Council applicants will be announced later in the year and will be offered free year long access to National Trust places for themselves and their family. Canoeing, surfing and camping will be part of the winning prize to ensure kids and their families experience the full National Trust offering.

The Kids’ Council will meet throughout 2013 and report their findings into the National Trust’s Visitor Experience Director, so their suggestions can be put into practise to help make the outdoors more fun for the nation’s kids.

The application process will close on September 7, 2012. Applications can be downloaded from the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kidscouncil and sent back via email, post or handed in at National Trust properties taking part in the Kids Go Free offer.

Tony Berry, visitor experience director of the National Trust, said: “We are really committed to helping kids enjoy the great outdoors and we want to make our places the most fun and family-friendly day out destinations in the UK. I’m really excited that our new Kids’ Council will help us do just that. Our kids go free promotion for the entire month of August will not only give kids and their families the chance to get out and explore, but hopefully inspire them to apply for our Kids’ Council and let us know what we can do better in the future.”