The three Somerset Wildlife Trust reserves that make up the Cheddar Complex (Velvet Bottom, Black Rock and Long Wood) offer a chance to explore the Mendip Hills. The remote landscape is fractured with traditional stone walls and offers panoramic view across the Levels and Moors. The area is famous for its caves and the spectacular Cheddar Gorge, which runs close to the reserves.
Animal Encounters
Animal Encounters
What is it?
Interactions with animals can vary immensely; they can range from big establishments with no animal contact such as zoos, small animals at a farm park.
What does it involve?
The basis of all encounters with animals is to interact with them! Sometimes it may be from a distance to ensure safety on both sides, but you can often get up close; you can train and even ride some animals.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Spending time with animals has been proven to be beneficial in many aspects of life and development - it can teach things such as compassion, responsibility, and discipline for both yourself and others.
What equipment do we need?
Depending on what sort of animal encounter it is, the equipment involved will vary. For example, riding a horse requires a lot more specialist equipment than stroking a cat! Make sure to check with your destination to see if you need to bring anything.
Who is it suitable for?
Animal encounters are suitable for pretty much anyone - always be careful with smaller children though, as they may not understand how to handle them properly.
Costs?
Can vary from free to reasonably expensive. Grounds that are open to the public and free to enter can often have wildlife roaming around to admire, but more extravagant establishments such as zoos with many more animals will undoubtedly cost more!
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Be aware of allergies when it comes to animal encounters; although mild allergies are much more common, the risk of a student having a severe reaction means you should exercise caution if there is going to be physical contact with an animal.
How do we include?
It will depend entirely on the type of animal encounter, but in general these kinds of activities will be great to include all students in, as everyone can interact with an animal in some manner.
Doing it abroad?
The variety of animals abroad will often vary greatly from our own, and encountering them can be a once in a lifetime opportunity! Foreign nature and safari parks can be great places to visit, so make sure to check out your destination thoroughly to see if there's one you can take a trip to.
Main website:
Check out individual websites for specific information on what's available for you to do!
Venues with this Activity
Unique adventure playground and assault course, plus a stunning indoor play facility, scenic active adventure trail, fishing, cycle hire, plus big sand and water play, with small stream and water wheels, plus a climbing tower and giant slide.
The house is surrounded by a moat which is a big success with any kid to start! Plus follow the nature trail and spot wildlife from the bird-hide, have fun in the natural play area and discover new areas of the estate on their 3 orienteering courses!
Extensive forest paths lead walkers through vast areas of mixed coniferous and broadleaf woodland. Path side vegetation management has provided the favoured habitats for butterflies and other flora and fauna. Follow the yellow waymarked path on an hour and a half walk around the forest to discover the variety.
A great trip out packed with happy!
Clacton Pier is home to a whole range of attractions. It is a modern, relatively vibrant amusement park and theme park combined into one big attraction. Clacton Pier is almost unique in the sense that there are some rides as you first enter and then the rest are dotted throughout the length of the pier. So you can just dip in and out of the fairground part of the pier.
Our Ada Cole visitor centre in Essex has a veritable feast of activities on offer. From horse owners and Redwings guardians to animal lovers and members of our Adoption Club, we have something for everyone!
We make sure your pupils get right up-close to the amazing creatures in our themed displays. After all, the more they see the more they’ll learn.
We make sure your pupils get right up-close to the amazing creatures in our themed displays. After all, the more they see the more they’ll learn.
We are a UK sailing club on the east coast that provides dinghy racing on the sea and have an inland lake for junior sailing. Snettisham Beach, on the North West Norfolk coast is a popular sailing venue for Laser 2000, Laser 1, Dart 18 Catamarans and Toppers.
NWT Ranworth Broad is a fantastic place to bring your children, suiting smaller groups especially well. Situated only 20 minutes outside Norwich, Ranworth contains a wide range of habitats and a fantastic variety of wildlife, all to be seen from 750m of boardwalk. Find our floating visitor centre, nestled in reeds, with amazing views out across the open water at the end.
Explore NWT Holme Dunes (5 miles from Hunstanton) with your group. There are a range of coastal habitats including sand dunes, freshwater pools, grazing marsh and saltmarsh and much of the site consists of natural habitats maintained largely by coastal processes.
Immerse yourself in 1930s Art Deco decadence at Eltham Palace, one of the most enchanting visitor attractions in London. Built by the wealthy Courtauld family next to the remains of Eltham Palace, childhood home of Henry VIII, it’s among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in England.
At the top of the park stand the imposing remains of Lowther Castle and its hidden Gardens.
Built by William the Conqueror, Rockingham was a royal fortress for 450 years. Home to the Saunders Watson family. Set in a panoramic location with views over five counties, the Castle has magnificently furnished rooms of several periods, and is surrounded by 18 acres of superbly contrasting gardens including a beautiful Room Garden created by Chelsea Gold Medal Winner Robert Myers.
Do you love donkeys? We most certainly do at Redwings Caldecott!
We have afternoon donkey talks where you can learn all about these adorable equines and the specialist care they require, as well as watch them enjoy some very special treats – yep, you’ve guessed it, ginger biscuits!
Natural History - Heritage - Living Voices
A unique museum in a row of extraordinary 15th century timber framed buildings. Explore the countryside with our natural history collection and come face to face with some of the country’s most secretive animals. Be inspired by the writings of John Moore, a renowned conservationist, and enjoy the seclusion of the Secret Garden.
Combine an educational day out with a fun-filled trip to Gulliver’s World Theme Park!
Who says learning can’t be fun? We have put together some brilliant education packs that will show you how to create a fantastic educational experience at Gulliver's.
Take the lesson out of the classroom and onto the theme park. We have topics and ideas that will really engage your group.
Highlights include Grotto Hill, where you can explore a pitch-dark labyrinth of ancient mines cut into the cliff; the Swiss Bridge, a rustic wooden structure perched over an unnervingly deep chasm; the Cleft, a path winding between two cliffs which narrows into a dark, creepy tunnel; and the Monument, a 100ft high column which can be climbed to enjoy panoramic views of up to 13 counties!
Lakes formed from the flooding of a disused gravel pit, surrounded by woodland, wetland and meadow that supports a wide range of wildlife, with one mile surfaced path around the lake.
Local groups include model boating and angling regularly use this site. The site is managed for recreation and conservation by East Staffordshire Borough Council.
A land of thrilling rides and the terrific Splashland, amazing attractions and exhilarating activities are waiting to be discovered. From the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster and challenging Mini Diggers, to the indoor soft play Pirate Ship and Tropical House the fun is endless!
Loads to do including milking, lamb feeding, pony grooming, and cart rides. Huge indoor play arena with toy tractor circuit and bouncy castles. Vintage Garage and Welsh Guards Museum. Exciting extras: Junior Driving School and quad bikes. Great Tearooms and picnic areas.
Carsington Water is a popular visitor attraction located a short distance from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire.
When in Norfolk come and spend the day, not a fortune, at Pettitts Animal Adventure Park, Reedham.
There are rides galore for young children, family entertainment, exotic and domestic animals and birds to see as well as animals to feed and pet.
Play area and frame suited for under 8s, plus sand play, sit on toys, and it's very popular with squirrels so an excellent place to wildlife spot.
Lepe Country Park has a wonderful mix of habitats for you to explore; discover what lives along the shore, bird watch over the Solent, North Solent National Nature Reserve and Dark Water Estuary, spot a variety of insects attracted to our wildflower meadows or stroll along the cliff top lined with Monterey and Corsican Pines.
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The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
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