ETHNIC minority youngsters from inner city Birmingham took a little bit of Exmoor home with them as part of a project aimed at bringing the countryside closer.

Organisers admitted that for the people of Handsworth, Exmoor might as well be a far off galaxy, with many of the children's parents having no idea where to find it even on a map.

But the visit -- a collaboration between the Exmoor National Park Authority, the Exmoor Society and Birmingham-based voluntary organisation ARDIC (Action Resource Development and Information Centre) -- proved a massive success.

The young people stayed at Minehead Youth Hostel and as well as heading off on a deer safari also undertook a range of conservation tasks.

They took some of the invasive silver birch trees they pulled up to improve the habitat of a colony of heath fritillary butterflies back to Birmingham to brighten up their own limited green spaces.

Maz Altas from ARDIC said the organisation was keen to find ways in which members of its community could explore other life experiences.

"We have been concentrating for the past year on environmental issues within our neighbourhood and outside of it.

"Some of the children have taken a keen interest in the protection of the limited green spaces we have in Handsworth.

"The park behind our centre was earmarked for major new home building until the locals got together to fight it."

One of the children told organisers: "The people of Exmoor will see something good in me and I will bring something good back and plant it in my area as a sign of goodness for all to see."