Located in Swadlincote in the heart of the National Forest, our education programmes at Rosliston cover a wide range of different environmental education activities, bringing pupils closer to the incredible nature which surrounds them.
Our sessions are designed to appeal to all pupils, whatever their ability or preferred learning style. They include traditional environmental education activities like ‘Nature Detectives’, ‘Pondlife’ and ‘Natural Design’.
With enough notice, we can also adapt to suit your theme, whether that be Pirates, ‘Environmental Fun’, Bear Hunts, The Great Fire of London… or Aliens!
Specialist sessions are also available, including:
- Early Years/KS1 – ‘Teddy Bushcraft’
- KS2 – ‘Working the Woods – past, present and future’ (where you can develop your own trail routes)
- A Level Geography – ‘Carbon & Water’ fieldwork session
Some of our most popular sessions:
Minibeast Mysteries
Focusing on minibeast investigation in several different habitats across the site. Consider how minibeasts are adapted to these different habitats e.g. looking at camouflage, colour and shape.
Nature Detectives
Using our senses and a variety of equipment to explore and discover site secrets! Includes a short walk looking for signs of wildlife, both plants and animals (including minibeasts). We are able to focus this session on habitats, adaptation, food chains, the roles (niches) of different creatures and/or identification/classification.
Natural Design
A walk to look at natural and manmade sculptures on site and making a collage or sculpture from natural materials. Don’t forget to bring your camera to record the work!
Pondlife
Pond dipping – focusing on identification and/or adaptation. We can focus on one pond or compare what lives in two ponds under different forms of management. Includes learning how to pond dip safely, respecting pond wildlife and observing the characteristics of various pondlife.
Secret Lives of Trees
More than thirty species of tree grow at Rosliston. Come and find out more about them! How does a tree grow? Why are trees so important? How do you tell them apart?
Tree Planting
In some years we are able to provide free tree planting sessions funded by the Woodland Trust and the National Forest Company. Contact us for more details/to go on waiting list.
Shelter Building
A hands on shelter building session in the woods! Working together, learn how to construct and take down a shelter made from natural materials safely. We can link this to natural disasters and storytelling.
Woodland Experience
Spend a day exploring the woodland using ideas from Forest School and Earth Education. Sessions can include a selection of woodland games, team working activities, basic bushcraft and survival skills, creative crafts, reflective activities and/or a camp fire. Can be adapted to fit a particular theme.
Outdoor Maths
Take up the challenge! An assortment of mathematical activities around the site. Developed in partnership with the local primary schools network group.
School Visit Programme leaflets – a summary of our sessions, facilities and prices can be downloaded here:
Educational Visits Essential Information Pack (including risk assessment info, site maps, essential pre-visit info, health & safety and booking form)
Subjects covered in our sessions include science, geography, history, music, literacy, technology, maths, citizenship and art and design. Ask for more information on how we can adapt sessions to include more on particular topics, if needed.
We welcome schools from across the Midlands :- Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Birmingham are all within easy travel.
Groups from further afield can stay at our own Forest Lodges or other local venues, e.g. YHA National Forest at Moira.
Book an educational group visit now!
Primary and Early Years
Secondary Schools and Colleges please email rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk
If you require additional information or wish to make an enquiry, please contact us via the methods at the bottom of this page.
We can offer a range of ‘Woodland Experience’ sessions, including bushcraft and
fire-lighting/campfire cooking, ‘Forest School’ taster days and programmes for all age groups.
Tailor-made packages are available for schools – tell us your requirements and we will do our best to deliver a package to suit you and your pupils.
This may also include training for you and your colleagues. We would be happy to meet you, show you the facilities and discuss your requirements in person.
Educational sessions are available in term time or in school holidays, and can be booked via our online form.
For groups in the holidays we can lead fun sessions with an environmental theme – e.g. mini-beast hunting or organise a ‘Summer School’ for you. Fun days can be developed from any of our standard sessions.
Our general risk assessment and more information is available on our Health and Safety page, or contact us for more information.
Prices
Standard sessions
– Up to 2 hours
– £110 per class of up to 30 pupils
– £200 per whole day – two sessions of up to 2hrs
Early Years sessions
– Up to 1.5 hours
– £85 per class of up to 30 pupils
– Smaller groups recommended
Please contact us for prices for secondary schools/colleges
We also have some self-guided trails which you can follow at low cost or no cost, before or after your taught session. If needed, you can book a small room as a base which costs £30 for half a day. The room is free for classes booking a whole day of sessions.
Self-led Groups
Self-led groups are welcome on site and we want to help you make the most of your visit.
If bringing 15 or more people, please discuss the date and other arrangements with us in advance.
Occasionally schools and holiday clubs bring groups of children for the day without booking staff or anywhere for the children to shelter/have lunch or leave their bags. This creates problems for the group and the site in the event of wet, cold or hot weather and is especially an issue in during the summer when the site is usually very busy.
Organising activities and making sure the children are protected from the elements during break times should be part of your risk assessment.
Please note: we do not allow self-led groups to do habitat work, shelter building or collect material on site.
Please read the self-led groups booking info and checklist for guidelines for self-led visits, and contact us for advice before booking a coach.
If you don’t want to use any of our facilities or book our staff to lead activities, we can work with the National Forest team to find a suitable site closer to your school which could save you the coach costs.
BOOKING & FURTHER INFORMATION:
Book your school visit here:
Alternatively, fill in the Environmental Education Project contact form:
Or email us for further information at: rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk
Or ring 01283 535039 (answerphone)