Bickley Barn - Countryside Classroom

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is the leading environmental charity in Cheshire offering high quality environmental education field trips and sessions to schools or community groups. We provide fantastic opportunities for outdoor learning at a range of locations across the county all complimenting the National Curriculum.  All our delivery staff are experienced environmental educators, first aid trained and DBS checked. We provide risk assessments for all our activities.

Bickley Hall Farm Countryside Classroom is located in south Cheshire around three miles from the village of Malpas and around eight miles from Nantwich between the A49 and A41. The 210acre (85ha) site allows children to experience both farming and wildlife first hand.

The countryside classroom is a converted barn which provides an excellent indoor facility to support our fantastic outdoor education opportunities. The 100 year old traditional farm buildings have been converted into 2 fully equipped classrooms with bag storage, girls and boys toilets with hand washing facilities and a kitchen with tea and coffee making facilities. It is based in the heart of our wildlife-friendly working farm surrounded by native-breed livestock and plenty of wildlife. There is a safe self-contained outdoor education nature area set in stunning countryside looking out toward the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge. It provides a place for children to play learn and discover.

At Bickley Hall Farm Cheshire Wildlife Trust caters for all ages. We offer varied environmental education packages linked to the national curriculum embracing Science, Geography, Math’s, English, Art and Design and History over early years and all key stages. We focus on exploring the four seasons, Living things in their natural habitat, Wildlife friendly farming, People farming and wildlife, Cheshire’s icy past. We can also offer fun Team building activities.

A typical visit to Bickley Hall Farm would involve a largely outdoor learning experience where children immerse themselves in wildlife explorations such as pond dipping and minibeast hunting. By studying wildlife and the wild place first hand they will learn about life cycles, food chain, interdependencies and adaptations of species. Remote camera equipment and a goosenecked camera used for magnification in a sharing situation give a close view of either very small or very secretive wild creatures.  Games, stories and art activities are used throughout to reinforce learning.