Autumn Term 2010 at Brackenhurst Environmental Education Centre [ PDF]

Nottinghamshire County Council oversees the running of three environmental education day centres to provide cross curricular activities in the outdoors to help facilitate the governments Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto.

Each centre is staffed by experienced teachers who are able to plan and work with visiting groups across a very broad range of programmes and activities linked directly to the schools curriculum, areas including literacy, numeracy, geography, history, science and art.  Visits to the centres also develop environmental understanding and contribute to PSHE and citizenship programmes.

The Environmental Education Day Centres:

• Are aimed at pupils of all abilities.
• Are all Eco Centres and provide activities linked to sustainability issues.
• There are a wide variety of teaching resources materials available to allow teachers to make the most of a visit to these excellent centres.
• Nottinghamshire schools' visits are subsidised by the Local Authority with remission of fees available for pupils eligible for free school meals.
• All risk assessments/operational procedures meet Local Authority and Department for Education guidelines.

See below for more information on each centre or download the Activities at the Environmental Education Day Centres booklet [PDF file]

The Lesson Planning For A Visit document. is designed to engage children in the process of organising a visit and to make them aware of the wide-ranging implications of taking children to an off-site educational experience.

Introduction to the Environmental Education Day Centres [ PDf file]

Environmental Education Day Centres Booking Form [ PDf file]

Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre
Head of Day Centres: Gary Richards.
Tel: 01623 822218
E-mail: perlethorpe@nottscc.gov.uk

Perlethorpe Risk Assessments [ Word doc]

Location of Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre [ Word doc]

   The Victorian Classroom at Perlethorpe

Perlethorpe is a wonderful place for learning outdoors. Pupils of all ages and abilities will enjoy the broad range of cross-curricular themes and activities available at the Centre. Through literacy activity days or exploring life processes in the woodland, experiencing Victorian life or meeting a personal challenge at orienteering, they'll have the chance to learn about the environment and themselves in real and exciting ways.

The centre is housed in the former village school set in the beautiful countryside surroundings of the Thoresby Estate in the historic 'Dukeries' of North Nottinghamshire. Visiting schools have access to a wide range of habitats; lake, river, farmland, woods, village and parkland. Visits to the church can also be arranged.

• Demonstration wildlife gardens.
• Victorian classroom.
• Adventure playground.
• Woodland log circles and sensory trail.
• Orienteering courses for all.
• Space for two class groups.

Brackenhurst Environmental Education Centre
Centre Teacher: Corby Lewington
Tel: 01636 817059
E-mail: corby.lewington@ntu.ac.uk

Brackenhurst Risk Assessments [ pdf]

Location of Brackenhurst Environmental Education Centre [ pdf]

               

The centre is run in partnership with Nottingham Trent University and located on the Brackenhurst campus near Southwell. The site contains access to working mixed farms, animal care and horticultural units, tropical house, an equestrian centre, conservation areas, Victorian kitchen garden, willow pattern garden and formal gardens.

• Learn about food production.
• Discover farm animals at close quarters.
• Experience life as a child in World War II Britain.
• Explore green lanes, dumble, hedgerows and ponds (More changes to follow)
• Orienteering courses.
• Space for up to two class groups.

Bestwood Environmental Education Centre
Centre Teacher: Jackie Adams.
Tel: 0115 927 3674
E-mail: jackie.adams@nottscc.gov.uk

Bestwood Risk Assessments [ Word doc]

Please note. alternative route map in use until end December 2009:
Location of Bestwood Environmental Education Centre [ pdf doc]

The classroom at Bestwood Country Park is set deep in the woodland, and is an excellent base for discovering a wide range of habitats and sites, including heathland, lake, pond and river sites, Bestwood Village itself and reclaimed colliery land.

National curriculum subjects, QCA units, GCSE and A level themes are brought to life in the outdoors and pupils of all ages and abilities can benefit from the expertise of Country Park Rangers who often work alongside the teacher at the centre.

• Conservation activities.
• 'Forest Schools' activities.
• Celebrate and take part in the Festivals of Christmas, Chinese New Year and Diwali.
• Shelter building.
• Orienteering courses.
• Space for up to two class groups.