TV presenter Kate Humble has said schoolchildren should be making mandatory visits to the countryside to ensure its survival.

The BBC2's Springwatch presenter believes getting children excited about the countryside is vital to preserve and protect it for future generations.

And so determined is Ms Humble to see it happen, she has vowed to take the matter up with the Education Secretary Michael Gove – who needs little convincing.

Indeed, the casual remark made by Ms Humble in a Radio Times interview this week could in fact become the seed that will inspire education authorities to provide the nation's children with a better knowledge of the great outdoors.

"It should be obligatory for every schoolchild to experience the countryside," the presenter said. "Children are the future. If you give them access to the countryside, they'll protect it.

"I'm going to be at (Education Secretary) Michael Gove about this – and I'm counting on you for help!"

The remarks have garnered the instant support of the Education Secretary and have been further backed by a leading West Country-based charity which introduces urban children to farms and country life.

"We agree," a spokesman for Mr Gove's department said yesterday. "The risk-adverse culture that has built up in our schools is preventing children learning valuable lessons about nature and the great outdoors.

"We want to rip up health and safety red tape surrounding school trips, to give teachers greater freedom to take pupils out the classroom. Keeping children wrapped up in cotton wool simply denies them lifelong learning opportunities and fresh air."

Helen Chaloner, chief executive of the Farms for City Children charity, says she's delighted that the subject is hitting the headlines.

"One of the things that comes over again and again from children who visit our farms is how little knowledge they have about where their food comes from," said Miss Chaloner, whose organisation has three farms visited by some 3,000 children a year.

The charity, originally set up by children's writer Michael Morpurgo 35 years ago, is the only one of its kind to give urban children an entire week on a working agricultural unit so they can experience life with real farming families.

"They find out about looking after livestock, growing vegetables and so," said Miss Chaloner, adding that the nine to 11-year-olds who visit are often amazed by the basics of country life.

"They talk about the starlit sky at night time – most city children won't see that at home. And they are often amazed at seeing a horizon that's not man made – that has a big impact on them."

The idea of bringing rural-based education to the national curriculum has also been backed by the Countryside Alliance. Not only does it call for outdoor education to be a compulsory subject, it suggests that fishing could help rehabilitate young offenders and calls for rural activities to be made accessible for disadvantaged children.

Spokesman Jill Grieve said: "Kate is absolutely right. We are in a farcical situation where many youngsters are so disconnected from the countryside and their food that they think that milk comes from Tesco and meat comes from a plastic wrapper. They also have no incentive to care about what happens to the countryside in the coming years.

"Given the opportunity to get out there and find out about nature children thrive – they love it and it also gives them confidence."

The alliance quotes statistics showing show that fewer than 10 per cent of seven to 11-year-olds spend time playing in places such as woodlands and heaths, while another report has discovered children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show a 40 per cent improvement when taking part in activities in green spaces.