The environmental activities are rated between 1 (low) and 4 (high) to help you choose the best activities to meet your aims. Please see our activity booklet for a guide on what to wear and what we can provide.
Minimum age: None
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
Use our bat detectors and information packs to seek out local bats at dusk; either around the site or down the Monsal Trail near the tunnels, where you will also be able to see the bat bricks.
Minimum age: None
Led by: Visiting staff (or an instructor if part of a walk)
A good reviewing activity to reflect on a day or a walk. Each member of the group must find a stick and collect material from the environment whilst on the walk. The materials are then tied to the stick using wool / string to illustrate the ‘journey’ / events that happened during the walk.
Minimum age: None
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
You can help feed the variety of birds here by making your own home-made bird cake. Fill our bird feeders then sit back and watch them get stuck in!
Minimum age: Year 1 (5 years old)
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
With 30 acres, we have many different habitats within our grounds, which make it ideal for searching for minibeasts and other creepy crawlies. Investigate where minibeasts live and why. You can also go and see what you can find hiding in our ‘bed and bugfest’ that a Green Action group build for our small friends! This activity can be part of the Nature Trail or linked to Den Building or topics back at school.
Minimum age: Year 1 (5 years old)
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
Explore our 30 acres of grounds and complete the environmental activities along the way. Activities include: Hug a Tree / Nature’s Palette / Sounds / Feely Box / Eye in the Sky.
Minimum age: Year 1 (5 years old)
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
Our pond is full of life. Small groups can easily dip from our purpose built platform (wheelchair accessible) and identify what they have found using our species ID cards. Magnifying glasses and all other pond dipping equipment are provided.
Minimum age: Year 3 (7 years old)
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
Collect material from the environment whilst on your walk around the grounds (i.e feathers / leaves / pine cones / bark / conkers / acorns etc) and make a dream catcher from willow and wool. Hang your materials from your dream catcher and place it at the end of your bed to keep the nightmares away…
Minimum age: Year 3 (7 years old)
Led by: Visiting staff/leader or an instructor
Use the resource pack to make your way around our grounds. Find the trees using the map, identify them using our twig or leaf ID cards.
