Environment Centres

Environment Centres

What are they and what do they involve?

Environment centres are venues designed to raise awareness of, emphasise the importance of and increase interaction with all aspects of the environment. The specifics can vary greatly and will often depend upon the location of the venue, but can include activities such as nature trails that allow you to experience the environment up close.

What are the benefits?

Having a level of understanding for the environment is important for everybody; it encourages learning outside of the classroom and taking responsible action to better the environment.

What students is it suitable for?

Pupils of all ages will like environment centres; they’re easy to enjoy and are reasonably simple venues that can provide a hugely rewarding education experience.

Costs?

Environment centres will usually have an admission fee, but these will generally fall under £10 for smaller venues, whereas large establishments such as the Eden Project can have higher costs.

Safety Implications?

As with any activities outdoors, you should make sure your student groups are properly prepared for any eventualities and are suitably supervised!

Venues for this Category

Handle the fluffy young chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs in Cuddle Corner and laugh at the antics of the pygmy goats on Goat Mountain. You can feed the ducks, groom a pony, watch and get involved in the ever popular piglet race! So much to do here!

Wyre Forest Discovery Centre hosts the "education centre of excellence". Curriculum linked activities and a variety of adult craft and wildlife focus days are available including high wires and muddy games!

We deliver tailor-made sessions for EYFS to KS4, on various topics including minibeasts, habitats, sustainability and woodland management, through investigations of our ancient woodland, reservoir, pond and grassland.

EYFS: 

Exploring Senses, Pond Power, Go on a Bug Hunt, Teddy Bears Picnic, Natural Art

Key Stage 1:

Our Education Centre at Magor Marsh is able to cater for groups of up to 32 children and for a variety of age ranges from pre-school and beyond, including teacher training days at all times of year! All our activities have been designed specifically for schools by qualified teachers and a teacher and forest school leader is available at the centre to discuss your individual requirements.

Our fantastic new Visitor Centre offers a modern base for your visit. Discover a wide range of Environmental Education programmes and also visit the nearby water treatment works to learn about the water cycle.

EYFS: 

Exploring Senses, Pond Power, Go on a Bug Hunt, Teddy Bears Picnic, Natural Art

Key Stage 1:

Fingringhoe Wick is one of the county’s top wildlife sites. Uncover the secrets of woodlands, meadows, ponds, heathland and the Colne Estuary. Our varied hands-on Environmental Education programme caters to all ages, from bug hunts for the early years to vegetation sampling for secondary pupils. 

EYFS: 

Brandon Marsh is the ideal place for your school visit due to its excellent opportunities for learning about nature, wildlife and the environment. We have ponds, bird hides, meadows and woodlands all set within our 200 acre nature reserve. The Education Team can provide your school with a tailor made package for your day where you can cover up to four topics.

The Folly Farm Centre is an environmental learning centre in the heart of the Chew Valley. Set in Avon Wildlife Trust's 250-acre nature reserve, it is an inspirational place to pick up new skills,  learn and engage with an exciting and diverse programme of courses.

Our visitor centre in the heart of Shrewsbury is a haven for wildlife in a uniquely accessible location. The walled wildlife garden is particularly suitable for groups of younger children and for older groups the centre makes a perfect base to explore the Reabrook Valley Local Nature Reserve. Toilets, disabled access, shop, refreshments, classroom, coach parking.

The centre, with its dedicated classroom, is a great base for exploring the wonderful heath and woodland of Witley and Milford Commons. It has all the facilities you will need, including a fire circle, dipping ponds and den building area. There are toilets and large sinks for washing little hands, and parking for coaches.

ACTIVITIES:

The York Environment Centre is managed by the Friends of St Nicholas Fields. We exist to promote sustainable living to people in York and the surrounding area. In 1994 we began work to transform this former landfill site into a Local Nature Reserve and the Environment Centre, which was completed in 2000.

Situated on a large inner city allotment site the Birmingham EcoPark is an environmental education centre which is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. 

Lings Wood Environmental Centre is situated in Lings Local Nature Reserve, a magnificent, urban woodland covering over 22 hectares in the Eastern District of Northampton. 

CAT is an education and visitor centre demonstrating practical solutions for sustainability. We cover all aspects of green living: environmental building, eco-sanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency and organic growing.

The Findhorn Foundation has been promoting principles of sustainable development since its creation in 1962. Located on the North East coast of Scotland on two main sites near to and within the town of Forres, Findhorn began with a small community of 3 adults and their children.

The Hockerton Housing Project is the UK's first earth sheltered, self-sufficient ecological housing development. Since the completion of the houses in 1998 Hockerton Housing Project has established itself as an exemplar of sustainable development locally and nationally.

Situated in gently rolling hills overlooking Kinghorn Loch in Fife, Craigencalt Ecology Centre was established in 1998 to give people a direct experience of the natural environment. 

The Earthship is a demonstration eco house. It is run as a visitor centre and is open throughout the year for both drop in visitors and booked tours. 

Garden Organic Ryton is the home of Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing and lifestyle charity which is dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food. We currently have a membership of 32,000 people across the UK and further afield together with two other gardens in Kent and Essex.

Welcome to our beautiful nature reserve created on the site of an old chalk quarry. Watch out for the wildlife that makes its home in the varied habitats of wetland, chalk grassland and woodland. Discover that whatever the season, College Lake is the ideal place to visit for a day of learning outside the classroom.

The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre is situated in the Oxford Island Nature Reserve on the southern shores of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK. With over 200,000 visitors every year, the Discovery Centre is an ideal place to promote the principles of sustainability.

Abriachan is a scattered rural community of about 140 people set high above the shores of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. There are still some active crofts but the majority of inhabitants are employed in Inverness and beyond.

Hill Holt Wood is a 14 hectare sustainably managed ancient woodland situated on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire border. It's a wonderful and enriching place to visit with facilities ranging from permaculture gardens, environmental sculpture, woodland walks, computer facilities, workshops and composting loos!

The Park contains wetlands, grasslands, woodland and heath supporting a wealth of animal and plant life on the doorsteps of Yardley Wood, Billesley, Springfield, Sparkhill and Small Heath.

Come in and explore, learn, reflect and enjoy the natural environment

This exciting new interpretation centre showcases the special qualities which make the Llŷn Peninsula so unique in terms of history, culture and environment.

Come in and explore, learn, reflect and enjoy the natural environment, and get ideas for activities, walks, attractions and things to do on the peninsula.

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