Education Centres
Our education centres are located at:
Blashford Lakes, just north of Ringwood
Testwood Lakes, north of Totton
Swanwick Lakes, west of Fareham
Isle of Wight
All of the centres are purpose built, well equipped and have direct access to a wide range of extensive, quality habitats. Here, you can compare and contrast your school or college grounds with our grasslands, woodlands and freshwater resources. Each site demonstrates sustainability and has its own specialities – please click on the site to find out more.
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See the menu of activities for Key Stages 1 and 2 or for Key stages 3, 4 and above.
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Our Education team can now run Forest School programmes either on our sites or yours, subject to availability. Forest School provides children with an outdoor classroom where they can learn through practical activities throughout the year, such as using tools to make things from wood, campfire cooking and shelter building. The programme helps children to become independent learners, raises self confidence and self esteem and improves problem solving skills.
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Waste free lunch competition - each centre runs an annual competition for visiting schools to encourage them to generate as little waste as possible. The school with the least amount of rubbish at the end of the school year will receive a prize.
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Each centre has a fully accessible classroom with capacity for up to 60 children, toilets and hand washing facilities and storage for coats etc.
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They have the equipment necessary to study and measure freshwater, grassland and woodland environments – nets, quadrats, basic measuring tools, microscopes, etc – and reference materials to aid identification.
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All our staff are CRB checked and have first aid training.
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Visiting groups will be provided with relevant risk assessments for the site and activities, but should carry out their own additional assessments in line with school guidance.
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Most visits are led by Education Centre staff, but we require the visiting group to provide adequate staff:pupil supervision in accordance with Hampshire County Council guidelines.
Under 5’s = 1:6
Under 8’s = 1:8
Under 12’s = 1:10
Under 18’s = 1:12
For higher risk activities, such as those near water or night walks, or when working with children with special needs requiring more individual attention, the group leader may increase the ratio of adults to children. -
The facilities can also be hired for a day or half day for independent use. Please contact the centre for availability and prices.
