Wildlife and Nature

Wildlife and Nature

What are they and what do they involve?

Wildlife and nature venues focus upon aspects such as the local environment and showcasing wildlife in their intended habitats. Falconry centres and forest exploration are good examples of what you can expect from such a venue; the emphasis is always on the more natural elements of the world around us, and how we can help it to flourish.

What are the benefits?

In a similar manner to a Zoo/Wildlife Park and an Environment Centre, these venues are excellent ways of educating students about the world around them in an accompaniment to their classroom learning. Experiencing wildlife in their natural habitats and seeing the effect humans can have upon them can be a new and memorable experience for many students, especially those from large cities!

What students is it suitable for?

Wildlife and Nature venues should interest students of all ages and tastes, but some extremely young students may get a little bored if the activity isn’t engaging enough; make sure the venue suits your specific group of pupils.

Costs?

Entry fees to wildlife and nature venues should normally come in under £10 – however, big establishments such as the Eden Project may run higher!

Safety Implications?

As with any outdoor activities, it’s important to make sure student groups are properly supervised and that the pupils obey any safety instructions issued to them on the day!

Venues for this Category

Llama trekking in the Peak District is the ideal way to spend a day out with a difference. These graceful animals are the perfect walking companion - not too fast, not too slow and with the added bonus of carrying your excess baggage!

Although you can't actually ride them, these lovely pack animals will willingly carry your rucksack, whilst you enjoy the beautiful scenery. What better way to get away from it all than by leading a gentle llama along bridleways, farm tracks and country lanes.

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.

Some 300 Bronze Age and medieval sites, covering 15 1⁄2 square kilometres (6 square miles) of Dartmoor landscape.

One of Dorset's prominent landmarks, dominated by an Iron Age hill fort

Pilsdon has a long history of occupation. Flint tools over 10,000 years old and two Bronze Age burial mounds are evidence that the site was in use long before the hill fort was built.

Like the other hill forts in Dorset, Pilsdon was abandoned after the Roman conquest, after which it's thought that it was used for rough grazing, much as it is today.

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.

Chalk ridge landmark with far-reaching views and rich natural heritage

Commanding the high point on the chalk ridge south-east of Salisbury, Pepperbox Hill is topped by an early example of a brick folly. Thought to have been built by Giles Eyre of Brickworth House, it may have served as a viewpoint for ladies following the hunt, a haunt for highwaymen and a lookout post for the home guard.

Wooded country around Cornwall's largest natural lake

Loe Pool, the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, is cut off from the sea by a broad shingle bar heaped up by heavy Atlantic seas.

The surrounding Penrose Estate is a mixture of rich farmland and woodland around Loe Pool, through which there are many paths to explore.

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.

Archaeology, lichen rich dunes and the award winning Three Cliffs Bay

Penmaen Burrows and Nicholaston Burrows are nestled between Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay. A walk through the burrows will take you through heathland, woodland, sand dunes and cliff tops.

Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre is home to over 240 rescued and endangered primates. We have 8 species of monkeys and prosimians at the park: capuchin monkeys, common marmosets, cotton-top tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, ruffed lemur, squirrel monkeys (pictured), stump-tailed macaques and woolly monkeys.

Situated in the railway station buildings in Matlock Bath, The Centre provides a unique learning experience with its own classroom and wildlife pond. It is within easy walking distance of the River Derwent and High Tor woods.

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.

Come along and enjoy flying displays, pig racing, tropical butterflies, snakes, reptiles, trout fishing and much more. Indoor and outdoor play areas for the children and barn style tea rooms for grown ups to relax.

Walk with Butterflies, the world’s most beautiful and delicate creatures as they fly around you.

A chance to walk with wolves and see them close up as you learn about these beautiful creatures.

There are also a number of Experience days available, including some that are specially tailored for kids. Many take place during the school holidays and more are added throughout the year.

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.

What We Do at the Raptor Foundation:

Provide medical care for injured raptors. Return rehabilitated birds to the wild. Provide sanctuary for unreleasable raptors.

Provide research into environmental problems and conservation matters. Assist with "Breed & Release" programs to rebuild raptor populations across Europe.

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.

Excellent walking country with ancient woods and tumbling streams

A wonderful place to discover spectacular views of the Peak District, ancient woods, parkland and heather moorland. The spectacular White Edge Moor overlooks the Derwent Valley and forms part of the long gritstone edge stretching from Stanage towards Birchens Edge south of Chatsworth House. If you have time, discover the old quarry workings at Bole Hill.

Visitors to Unst and Yell in Shetland are in for a treat – dramatic scenery and abundant wildlife coupled with a tangible and very special sense of remoteness.

The National Trust for Scotland owns pockets of land on both islands and they are easily accessible from mainland Shetland by regular vehicle ferries.

Experience the wildest scenery that Snowdonia has to offer

A 21,000-acre mountainous place, acquired in 1951 from the Penrhyn estate, includes the Cwm Idwal Nature Reserve renowned for its arctic alpine plants. There are eight tenant upland farmson this land, 9,000 peaks above 3,000 feet and the famous mountain Tryfan where Edmund Hilary trained for his ascent of Everest.

A friendly, family run business with a wonderful collection of over 30 birds of prey to see, including owls, hawks, and falcons. A number of experiences available for accompanied children aged 14 and older.

Recent additions that the kids won’t want to miss are a Great Grey Owl and a Steppe Eagle, there is also a Green Winged Macaw called Woody!

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