Princess Royal makes nature charity HQ visit

A charity which provides outdoor education to thousands of schoolchildren has welcomed the Princess Royal as its new patron.

Princess Anne visited the headquarters of the Field Studies Council at Preston Montford in Shropshire on Tuesday.

She met children who were visiting, and centre manager Arran Holdsworth said they "chatted at length".

Becks Evans, assistant headteacher at Shrewsbury Academy, said her students had been "buzzing for weeks" and she added: "They were really proud to talk to her today about the time they spend here at the Field Studies Council."

The environmental education charity, which was established 80 years ago, said it caters for more than 100,000 young people at its network of field study centres across the UK.

It said it was "engaging some of the most deprived young people in outdoor learning and giving them access to nature".

During her visit the Princess Royal met trustees, staff from across the UK and visitors, including a group from Grantham Prep School near Nottingham.

One year six student, Freddie, had caught a butterfly when she came to speak to his group.

He said: "We thought it was a red admiral, and we were talking about ways to identify it when Princess Anne spoke and mentioned that there was a phone app to identify the butterflies."

"I thought that was funny. She was very interested in what the children were doing and it's been a lovely experience for us all."

Ethan, who was taking part in a bug hunt, said: "She was very nice. I've seen her on the TV many times so it was amazing to meet her."

At the end of the visit, Princess Anne was asked to unveil a plaque to mark her patronage of the charity and was given locally-grown flowers.

Later in the day, the princess visited HM Prison and Young Offender Institution at Stoke Heath near Market Drayton.

She was there in her capacity as patron of the Butler Trust, a charity which celebrates excellence in UK prisons, probation, youth justice and escort services.

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