Daleks more familiar to children than real animals!

Telegraph

Children have become so divorced from the outdoors that they are more likely to recognise fictitious Dr Who monsters like the Daleks than real life animals such as a barn owl, a survey has revealed.

Nine ouf 10 children surveyed correctly identified Daleks, while less than third correctly named a magpie

The online questionnaire for the National Trust found just 53 per cent of youngsters could correctly identify an oak leaf, while half could not tell the difference between a bee and a wasp. One in three children failed to identify a magpie and only 47 per cent correctly named a barn owl.

In contrast nine out of 10 were able to correctly name Doctor Who's enemies the Daleks and a similar number recognised Star Wars' Jedi grand master, Yoda.

The survey is part of a National Trust campaign launched in London aimed at encouraging families to spend more time together outdoors.

Nick Baker, the television naturalist, said: "It's a sad modern phenomenon that has left many of us, and in particular the younger generations, disconnected from the natural world.

"In an age where Nintendos and Playstations compete with tree climbing and pond dipping; the virtual world is winning.

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"With more kids better able to identify a fictitious alien than our national tree, the Oak, something needs to be done."

The trust says no one living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland is more than 45 minutes away from one of its sites. Starting in London, the trust is taking a flavour of the outdoors to major cities across England in the form of a specially designed garden on the top of a double decker bus.

Entitled The National Trust Bus to Space, the tour aims to remind families that high quality outdoor space is only ever a short journey away, regardless of where they live. In the coming days the bus will visit Birmingham, Manchester, York and Bristol. A range of family events, including bug hunts and safari trails, are being held at National Trust properties during the coming months.

National Trust conservation adviser Matthew Oates said: "Natural beauty and wildlife are vital to us. We are part of nature; we need it, and we need the beauty, wonder and laughter it offers us.

"The more distanced we become from nature, the more difficult it will be for us to survive on this planet."

* A total of 1,651 children aged between 10 and 12 across the UK took part in the online survey, which was conducted by OnePoll on behalf of The National Trust.