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!

 

See below for a list of venues and providers of this kind: 

Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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: 

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

Key Stage 1:

Four Seasons in One Day, Where the Wild Things Are, Living Things and their Habitats, Rocks and Soils, Plant Power

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Brandon Marsh Nature Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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. We have excellent facilities for children of all ages as well as those with special educational needs. We also run holiday workshops, Nature Tots and Birthday parties.

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Folly Farm Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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.  Keep your eyes open for the wealth of wildlife in the woodlands and explore what lurks beneath the waters of the pond during the day or be immersed in the wonder of Folly Farm and the wildlife at night on one of our residential courses.

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The Cut

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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.

Activity Examples:

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Witley Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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:

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York Environment Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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.

From this base, we provide inspiration, advice, practical examples and services to enable people in York and beyond to move towards a sustainable future. Our three core activities are:

1. Continuing to improve St Nicholas Fields as a Local

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Birmingham EcoPark

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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. 

Serving local schools, we provide a stimulating learning environment which includes woodland, flowering meadow, a pond and heathland. We also have a demonstration wind turbine, solar panels and a reed-bed system to recycle our grey water.

In addition to work with local schools we are also open to visitors by appointment. The EcoPark is a great place to relax as well as to learn!

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Centre for Alternative Technology

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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.

Our facilities

Our site is a unique and valuable practical demonstration centre, a living laboratory with an enormous range of live examples of sustainable solutions.

CAT has the largest range of installed renewable systems anywhere. These include:

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Lings Wood Environmental Centre

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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. 

Working with people of all ages we provide a variety of educational and community-based services to help people enjoy the outdoors and learn about wildlife. Many local people regularly use the area for informal recreation and general enjoyment. 

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Findhorn Ecovillage

Venue Type: 
Environment Centres
Overall Rating: 
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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. Through pioneering methods of horticulture on what was a relatively barren sand dune ecosystem, they gradually became more and more self-sustaining. 

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