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!

Venues for this Category

Box Hill, North Downs

Juniper Hall is an amazing location for fieldwork, set in a quiet wooded valley in an unspoilt area of the chalk North Downs at the edge of Box Hill (less than 10 minutes from the M25). 

South Devon Coast

Start Bay Centre is located above Slapton with stunning views across the Start Bay Coast. Each group has exclusive use of the converted old school. The recently refurbished Centre provides comfortable facilities with a friendly atmosphere. An enclosed garden includes a low ropes course, BBQ area and campfire circle.

Dale is the sunniest place in Wales and averages in excess of 1,800 hours of sun shine a year. It is a perfect location for a field trip. It is surprisingly accessible and once here you'll appreciate its fantastic setting.

South Devon Coast

The Centre is located on the Start Bay coast and surrounded by Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve. The Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West. It is separated from the sea by Slapton Sands (a barrier beach and shingle ridge). The surrounding coastline, nearby coastal towns and Dartmoor National Park provide unrivalled opportunities for field courses.

Snowdonia

FSC Rhyd-y-creuau provides high quality residential outdoor learning and fieldwork for primary schools, secondary schools and university groups. We also have a range of courses and holidays for adults and families.

In addition to our two residential centres in Cumbria, FSC has a dedicated team of teaching staff who deliver full or half day courses for schools using the stunning locations found within the Lake District. A typical day begins at 10.00am when one of our teaching staff will meet you at your chosen site.

Shropshire/Welsh Border

Preston Montford has been an FSC Field Centre since 1957. It serves a very diverse range of customers of all ages and levels of learning. It has been accredited with Eco-Centre status.

Pembrokeshire Coast

Orielton Field Centre is ideally placed to explore the diverse environments & habitats that Pembrokeshire has to offer. As a centre we cater for University Groups, Schools and leisure learners.

Northern Ireland

FSC Northern Ireland provides fieldwork opportunities in Belfast with a wide variety of urban fieldwork courses across Belfast and in the Titanic Quarter, which is one of the world’s largest urban, waterfront regeneration projects.

West Fermanagh

Derrygonnelly Centre lies in the unspoilt West Fermanagh countryside, 10 miles from Enniskillen and only 15 miles from the Donegal coast. The Centre is run in partnership with Derrygonnelly and District Community Enterprises, on the site of a former creamery. The River Sillees runs through the Centre grounds.

Exmoor

Nettlecombe Court lies in a secluded valley at the eastern edge of Exmoor National Park. The house is a striking example of a Tudor and Georgian country mansion set within its own grounds. The Centre has excellent access to the Somerset coast as well as  Exmoor National Park and The Quantocks Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Neath Port Talbot / Castell Nedd Port Talbot

Set in 850 acres of beautiful parkland where 600 deer roam freely, Margam Discovery Centre offers high quality environmental education to all age groups, both residentially and for day visits. The centre is a state of the art low carbon footprint building designed by The Welsh School of Architects.

FSC Malham Tarn is an excellent base for primary school trips. At Malham Tarn we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities for primary school children.

Amersham Field Centre is located in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The FSC manages the centre and nature reserve on behalf of National Grid Transco. The 30 hectare site provides a mosaic of woodland, grassland and pond habitats for all ages to study.

In the Heart of Ancient Woodland

Epping Forest Field Centre is a purpose-built non residential centre located in a terrific Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation that provides excellent learning opportunities.  It has excellent transport links and is only a few kilometres from the M25 and M11 and from Loughton Station (Central Line for London Undergro

Lake District

Castle Head Field Centre lies in its own extensive grounds between the southern fells of the Lake District and the shores of Morecambe Bay. The Centre has 120 beds and a number of large indoor spaces including 6 workrooms, student common rooms, a separate staff lounge and a sports hall.

Nurture in Nature

FSC Bishops Wood is an excellent base for primary school trips. At Bishops Wood Field Centre we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities for primary school children. From Literacy through landscape to wilderness bushcraft designed to encourage problem solving and teamwork.

The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the management the Forest. It is the best starting point for finding out about the Forest, what you can see, and where you can go.

Education

Every year we engage thousands of people of all ages with their local environment where they make a positive difference to their community.

EcoPark is the Wildlife Trust's education centre in East Birmingham. It offers national curriculum linked environmental activities to schools across Birmingham and the Black Country.

Every year thousands of young people take part in the exciting and varied wildlife and environmental education activities offered by the Centre of the Earth.

Stunning and innovative visitor centre built on a former landfill site, with superb views over Mucking Flats SSSI and the Thames Estuary (SPA). Footpaths and cycle ways in 120 acres of nature park, which will expand to 845 acres. Great birdwatching - and ship watching.

The perfect place to take a stroll or cycle ride, visitors can learn more about this feat of engineering by exploring the variety of information boards on the route. Or visit the skate park and children's play area. 

A link between the Bay and Penarth, it also forms part of the 10k Cardiff Bay Trail through ISV. Pick up a map at the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre.

The UK Earth Centre Network is a project which aims to support the development of all places across the UK where the principles and practice of sustainable living are being shared with people in the wider community. Currently we have 50 members across all of the UK's Regions.

We are the organisation to encourage the people of Greater Manchester to recycle more and recycle better.

The community we live and work in needs to appreciate waste as a valuable resource. We have to recycle it. We all need to lead the way, to drive it forward and take the initiative.

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