What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

We visit schools to carry out a wide range of workshops that provide essential backup to classroom teaching, make use of the wealth of natural resources within school grounds and in the local vicinity and encourage creativity and responsibility.
We are highly qualified with expertise in environmental science and wide experience working with young people.
• all equipment and expertise provided • all activities are risk assessed
• all staff CRB checked • grant advice • curriculum weeks.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

Pupils learn to appreciate their surroundings in new ways, work as teams, learn to understand the living landscape and to discover the wildlife they share their lives with. Pupils can help to create a lasting legacy for the school such as a living willow dome or bug hotel.Pupils may also learn new skills such as whittling, fire lighting and den building.

What are the activities?

SCHOOL GROUNDS DESIGN Full day KS2 only
Use google earth and simple survey techniques to draw up a plan to attract wildlife
and create a fantastic resource. Management plan and grant advice supplied with
this project.
SCHOOL GROUNDS DEVELOPMENT Half-full day
We work with pupils, staff and parents to create habitats such as ponds, woodlands
for Forest Schools or outdoor classrooms, hedgerows, vegetable patches, meadows
or butterfly gardens. Grant advice, safe tool use and management of the area
iincluded.
WILDLIFE AREA RESCUE Half-full day project
Is your wildlife area overgrown and underused? We lead pupils to cut, clear and
plant, ponds and other habitats, recreating an inviting outdoor classroom.
MINIBEAST HOTEL Half day project
Construct a structural invertebrate hotel for the grounds using a range of materials
designed to provide layers of habitats for invertebrates.
STAG BEETLE PYRAMID Half day project
Stag beetles are a Bio-diversity Action Plan Species. Create a structural pyramid for
stag beetles and other terrestrial invertebrates.
POND RESCUE Half day project
With the help of children and parents have a working party to clear, plant and re-shape to get the
pond back into tip-top condition.
ORCHARD DAY Full day project
We work with pupils to understand the cultural importance of orchards and to plant a orchard in
your grounds. Also apple tasting and tree dressing.
LIVING WILLOW STRUCTURES
Use willow to create works of art for the school
grounds or develop some individual creations
Tunnel materials - cost £25/m and
dome materials - cost £100.
BUSHCRAFT and DEN MAKING
Up to 3 classes a day
Use simple hand tools and natural materials to make
the following:
• shelter building • fire lighting skills • bird feeders
• elder beads • willow pegs • charcoal pencils
• environmental art.
MINIBEASTS IN THE CLASSROOM Up to 5 classes a day
Explore large habitat trays full of leaf litter and live woodland minibeasts. Identify them and learn
about lifecycles, food chains and role in the ecosystem.
HABITAT COMPARISON Up to 5 classes a day
Survey the school grounds to discover the minibeast life in dark corners, trees, long grass and
ponds.
SEASHORE Up to 5 classes a day
Comparing Habitats
Explore large habitat trays with tide line flotsam and jetsam to find treasures of the shoreline and
find out the mysterious lives of marine creatures.
POND DIPPING Up to 5 classes a day
Dip your school pond and use keys to identify the creatures, use a biotic index, explore pollution,
life cycles and food chains and draw up a plan to improve the bio-diversity of your pond.
ECOSCHOOL Up to 5 classes a day
Choose from the following fun activities designed to inspire and enthuse eco warriors and
introduce the main themes of Ecoschools :
• Rot and Rubbish • Food miles game • Waterwise Game • Biodiversity • Energy footprints
• Challenge Citizens of the world • Wants and needs • Kinder Egg Challenge.
WASTEAWAY DAY Up to 2 classes a day
Activities to help pupils reduce reuse and recycle rubbish at school and at home.
• Materials magic • Bin Bag Challenge • Waste Audit • Lunch box less • Compost Corner
• Recycled Paper making.
EXPLORE THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT Half day project
Do you have a local wood, churchyard, river or seashore in walking distance? We work with
classes to identify the wildlife of the local vicinity by using minibeast hunting equipment, tree and
plant id sheets and looking for tracks and signs.
NATURE’S ART Up to 4 classes a day
Use natures’ art cupboard to create group or individual masterpieces:
• Andy Goldsworthy art • Muddy faces • Weaving • Tree Dressing • Dream catchers.
TREES AND PLANTS Up to 5 classes a day
Use keys and activities to explore life cycles and the roles of trees and plants in the ecosystem.
• School tree trail • Tree Profiles • Seed dispersal • Fabulous Flowers • Tree dressing
BIRDS PROJECT Up to 5 classes a day
• Owl Pellets dissection • Nest building • Design a bird • Bird feeders • bird boxes.
EXPLORE YOUR SENSES Up to 4 classes a day
Use your senses to explore the colour, touch, sound and smell of nature.
• Camouflage caterpillars • Call of the wild • Smelly Cocktails • Touch&feel • Mirror walk.
NATURE TRAIL Up to 3 classes a day
Map the natural features of the school grounds to create a trail for others to follow.
BOOKINGS AND DETAILS
Tel 01621 862992
laurah@essexwt.org.uk

What is the age range of the activities?

any age

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

we provide all materials

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

one class at a time.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

We have all risk assessments

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

These can be arranged

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

n/a

Is specific clothing required?

old clothes and clothes suitable for the time of year.

Do you have first aid on site?

n/a

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

no

Additional information.

we have been working in schools in Essex for 16 years.