Features include an adventure playground, picnic sites, BBQ stands and bird watching area. Also the starting point for numerous self-guided walking and family cycling trails, including routes for people with disabilities.
Nature Trail
Nature Trail
What is it?
A nature trail is a planned outdoor walking route, along which are posts marking varying points of interest for people to stop and observe. They can include things such as nature, environmental features and objects of technological and cultural importance, and generally the marker posts have some information displayed for the walkers’ perusal.
What does it involve?
These sorts of trails can involve many different things, but they are all generally based around walking on a circuitous route or from point A to B. The lengths of the trails can vary from reasonably short 30 minute walks to taking many hours to complete – there are different types to include all sorts of different features.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
A nature trail is a great and easy way to get interested in the surrounding environment! The presented information means it requires no research on the things around you, so it’s hassle free and a alternative way of learning.
What equipment do we need?
You shouldn’t need any equipment other than appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear!
Who is it suitable for?
As long as you make sure the length and intensity of the nature trail is suitable for the ages of the students, it should be suitable for pretty much anyone!
Costs?
Most nature trails are generally free to access, but more specialist walks may have a guide available, which would have some costs! Make sure to check ahead of time.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Nature trails can take you a reasonable distance away from any towns, so if you have students with unpredictable medical conditions you must ensure you can call for medical help and that assistance can access your location easily! Also, young children should always be supervised carefully when in an unsecured outdoor location!
How do we include?
The nature of the outdoors means that the terrain can be rough or unpredictable, so those with physical disabilities may have issues navigating the route. Check with the trail’s organisers to find out the specific details.
Doing it abroad?
Foreign nature trails will be fascinating! They can give you a chance to see and learn about some of the features of different countries while seeing them in real life as opposed to pictures in books. Do some research beforehand to see what is going to be available in the area!
Main website:
See specific venue websites for information about their nature trails.
Venues with this Activity
A beautiful conservation area set within the Millennium Country Park, suitable for all ages, with a Lakeside cafe, picnic area, adventure playground, gift shop, cycle hire and seasonal events. Excellent disabled access, free entry and parking, dogs and horses welcome.
A complete off road Pony Trekking Centre. All Weather riding all year round, even in the snow! Disabled customers catered for, Treks suitable for all levels of rider available, We cater for ages 4 upwards.
Look out for the Buzzards and Herons flying overhead whilst taking a trail ride around the Nature Reserve or a cheeky woodpecker in the woods!
Shropshire based petting farm and zoo with over 150 different species of animal. Indoor and outdoor demonstrations take place daily including lamb feeding, sheep racing; meet the meerkats and egg collecting. The farm also has an indoor and outdoor play area, cafe and gift shop.
Where fun, farming and nature go hand in hand.
A farm park, petting farm, indoor soft play, outdoor play, nature park, wildlife encounters, adventure play, working farm, cafe, educational centre, rare breeds farm, adventure play, children’s birthday parties.
A farm park with a difference, featuring an enchanted walk, adventure playground and our collection of farm and exotic animals. Everything is designed with disabled children in mind, but Fairytale Farm can be enjoyed by everybody.
A wooded valley opening up to the moors of Dartmoor with a rich and varied industrious past
The Plym Valley consists of varied habitats from riverside meadows, ancient woodland and the wilderness of Dartmoor. Car parks at Plymbridge, Cadover Bridge and Shaugh Prior provide good starting points to explore the area on foot or bike.
The highest point in Dorset with views between the trees over Devon, Somerset and out to sea
Standing at 915 feet (279 metres) Lewesdon Hill, along with nearby Pilsdon Pen, dominates the surrounding landscape. It's certainly an alluring hill fort, although being enclosed by woodland the views aren't uninterrupted, but the glimpses of the surrounding landscape you do get through the trees are worth the climb to the top.
An oasis of peace and tranquillity only 13 miles south-east from the centre of London
Full of natural history, the area is a haven for all kinds of bird, butterfly, amphibian and plant life.
Rich in industrial heritage, caves, ancient woodland and rare species
Spectacular cliffs, caves where mammoths once lived, rare birds, an underground river, bat roosts, silver lead mining, ancient woodland, smuggling and limestone quarrying are just a few of the wonders of this area.
An ancient semi-natural woodland just north of Kenilworth, once part of the Forest of Arden. The wood is managed traditionally as high forest with a coppice understorey, providing tall trees of oak, birch and sweet chestnut with a lower shrub layer of hazel and holly.
Visit in May for fantastic displays of bluebells.
Species and habitats
Habitats
A magical place to experience animals, birds and all sorts of owls from all over the world. During winter months and in very wet weather the animals are displayed undercover.
Walk with Butterflies, the world’s most beautiful and delicate creatures as they fly around you.
Everyone loves our resident seals and there are always plenty to been seen during their rehabilitation process. Loads more too: Penguins, Aquarium (find Nemo and friends), Tropical House (creepy crawlies), Tropical Butterflies (April to Oct), Crocodiles and Pets Corner too.
School Trips at Skegness Natureland
Located in the stunning Tilgate Park, Tilgate Nature Centre houses over 100 different species of animals, from endangered to farmyard favourites. It also maintains rare breeds of native livestock including white park cattle, Boreray sheep and Bagot goats, as well as new arrivals: meerkats and otters.
Situated in the heart of the Rockingham Forest, the park offers access to fantastic woodlands, meadows, thickets, marshes and ponds to explore.
Recreation
Market Hall Museum is an historic museum operated by Heritage and Culture Warwickshire.
Built in 1670, the Market Hall originally contained arches on all four walls (later converted to windows), to provide under-cover space for stalls.
A place to learn about the specialist wildlife work done by the hospital and to meet some of the rescued animals. Activities and Talks held during school holidays.
Kids can find out about how they either release animals back to the wild when they are fit, or gives them a home if not.
More of a town than a house: six hundred years of history
Nestled in a medieval deer-park, Knole is vast, complex and full of hidden treasures. Originally an Archbishop’s palace, the house passed through royal hands to the Sackville family – Knole’s inhabitants from 1603 to today.
Ruin of a 14th-century Carthusian priory
Set amid woodland in North Yorkshire, this unusual monastery is the best preserved Carthusian priory in Britain.
Mount Grace Priory is the perfect tourist attraction for a relaxing and peaceful day out. Discover how the monks lived 600 years in the reconstructed monk’s cell and herb plot.
With some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Scotland, Torridon is a magnet for walkers, geologists and naturalists.
The estate includes some of Scotland's finest mountain scenery, comprising Liathach, 1,054m (3,456ft) which has seven tops and Beinn Alligin, 985m (3,230ft), composed mainly of Torridonian sandstone dating back 750 million years.
In the Six Wells Bottom National Trust Valley, near Stourhead and King Alfred's Tower, stands the impressive Grade I listed St Peter's Pump.
Built in 1474, the pump originally stood near St Peter's Church at the west corner of Peter Street, Bristol and was used by residents as a main water supply.
Lindisfarne is a delightful, unspoiled, historic island lies just off the extreme Northeast corner of England near Berwick-upon-Tweed. The small population of just over 160 persons is swelled by the influx of over 650,000 visitors from all over the world every year.
17th-century thatched Baptist meeting house
Discover Loughwood, one of the earliest surviving Baptist churches in the country. Founded in secret during a time of great persecution towards non-conformists, this beautiful chapel is set into the hillside and looks out over the rolling east Devon countryside with views of the Axe Valley.
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