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

The Waterton Countryside Discovery Centre at Anglers Country Park is named after Charles Waterton, the famous 19th century naturalist who created what is thought to be the world's first nature reserve at nearby Walton Hall.

Anglers Country Park is a designated Local Nature Reserve and the lake is a Site of Scientific Interest due to its significance as a haven for wildfowl. Yet only 30 years ago, the 64-hectare site was part of one of Europe’s deepest open cast mines.

The Country Park now provides a variety of habitats that are rich in wildlife offering both a safe and ideal opportunity for learning outside the classroom.

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

Outdoor activities have been developed to meet most areas of the national curriculum with each session employing innovative ways of helping students become familiar with their local environment.

What are the activities?

The following list is by no means exhaustive, it simply gives a taster as to what can be offered.

Pond dipping looks at life underwater. Learners identify pond creatures, use observational skills to draw and write about the species they find, learn about life cycles and food chains and see how creatures have adapted to live in water.

Minibeasts: Look for minibeasts in different habitats, learn how to identify them, record your findings and discover why they live there.

Tree trail: Identify trees by their leaves by looking at shapes or by using a simple key. Find out how they grow and play some games to learn how important they are.

Habitats: Compare the different plants and animals found within different habitats and discover how they are suited to their chosen environment.

Natural art: Scavenger hunt for natural materials and then use the materials found to make a natural collage, stick pallette or woodland crown.

What is the age range of the activities?

Sessions are tailored to the requirements of individual groups and the depth to which each subject is covered depends upon the age group so there are no age restrictions.

Sample programme of the activities:

A typical full day programme consists of 2-3 Ranger lead activities. However, this is often dependant upon time constraints and group size. Large classes (over 30) are split into two manageable groups. Programmes are structured, but offer opportunities for students to experience and explore the environment at their pace. Depending on the students ages, the afternoon session normally ends with environmental games involving teachers, helpers and children.

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

A variety of resources are available for all activities offered.

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

There is no minimum group size, but groups larger than 60 are split into two groups that rotate activities after lunch.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

Once booking is confirmed we will send out the appropriate risk assessment forms covering safety on site and each of the chosen activities. These are normally despatched via email, though paper copies can be supplied.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

We request teachers try and attend a pre-visit session before the trip is due to take place. These short meetings allow teachers to talk through the structure of the visit and ensure it meets their specific requirements.

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

Within the visitor centre complex there is a cafe next door to the classroom. However, we recommend that students bring a packed lunch that can be eaten either in the classroom or outside on the patio/grassed area depending on the weather. There are also toilets next to the classroom and within the centre.

Is specific clothing required?

We highly recommend that all staff and students bring suitable outdoor clothing and appropriate footwear.

Do you have first aid on site?

A first aid kit is carried by individual members of staff who are all first aid trained. Safety talks are given prior to the commencement of each activity.

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

There are no restrictions for users. However, council staff may occasionally request to take photos for publicity/marketing purposes and these require a Consent Form to be completed.