A Natural Way to Learn
We have been working with visitors, families, schools and corporate groups since 1994, helping shape environmental education in South Derbyshire and across The National Forest.
For our latest news, events, offers and content follow us on on our social media pages.
About us
Part of South Derbyshire District Council, we are supported by:
We have held the Quality Badge for Learning Outside the Classroom since 2013 – following a rigorous inspection by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (the outdoor learning equivalent of Ofsted!).
Our sessions and activities have won 4 national and 2 international awards between 2004 & 2024. Some of our STEM activities are Crest-Accredited learning. Our STEM activities are sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc.
Our Manager, Kate Allies, won a national ‘Lifetime Achievement Award‘ on behalf of the whole team for our programmes and activities from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.
Our work has also featured in Derbyshire Life (2015, 2017, 2020) and The Times Educational Supplement (2009).
We have worked with the Woodland Trust and Sainsbury’s to write and deliver programmes for schools across the UK and we also develop and deliver work for other partner organisations and schools.
There is more information about us on the South Derbyshire District Council website, particularly in relation to our work in heritage education and reducing food waste.
School Groups
For schools we offer curriculum-linked activities, based on exploration and investigation in our woods, ponds and meadows – but always with a big emphasis on fun!
Our outdoor learning opportunities cover a range of subjects and we are happy to discuss your requirements. We can also provide teacher training and twilight sessions both here and at your own site.
We have programmes and activities for early years, primary and secondary pupils and can adapt our sessions for different ages, needs, abilities and for different sites.
We review all our sessions, activities and risk assessments regularly.
Please contact us with your session ideas and any requirements/adaptations you might need.
Someone is available most weekdays for a telephone call, video call or a face to face meeting on site. Please email us to book a slot or ring the office.
Email Mon-Fri (9am-5pm) rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk.
Office number 01283 535039 (answerphone: if no-one is available immediately please leave a message and we will call you back).
Book your school visit here.
View the School & Education Groups page for more information.
Activities, trails and events for families and other Visitors
Our activity programme includes events like the Science Discovery Day, ‘NightWatch’ wildlife event and ‘Wildlife Watch’ holiday activities. See the Centre’s ‘What’s On‘ page for more details.
We also run activities for pre-school children and their parents/carers called ‘Saplings’.
For groups of adults we have the TREC Environmental Puzzle Challenge around the site and lots of activities which you can book, including campfires, denbuilding, wellbeing sessions and guided walks.
Downloadable trails are available that you can follow on site. Please let us know how you get on!
If you enjoy finding out about trees, you can follow our ‘Tree Trail’ which starts opposite the garden. This can be downloaded here.
A range of woodland parties are available (for all ages).
Corporate Groups
Our environmental ethos is at the heart of our offer to corporate groups. We have a wide range of activities for you to choose from including conservation tasks, campfires, environmental teambuilding training and a puzzle challenge around the site. We also work with our partners at Rosliston who can offer falconry and a programme of physical activity. Find out more in our designated corporate section.
Volunteering
We run a Gardening Drop in Session every Monday from mid Jan to end November (except Bank Holidays). By joining in with gardening activities you can increase your fitness levels, help us with the garden, and learn some basic gardening skills at the same time.
On the second and fourth Tuesday each month we run Rosliston Rangers volunteering activities – join us to help maintain the site and carry out conservation tasks.
Click here for more information or email us.
Wellbeing
Our staff are trained to deliver ‘Forest Bathing’ walks and ‘Think Like a Tree’ workshops and courses, plus other activities that contribute towards positive mental health, happiness and general wellbeing. These are available for individuals, families and for groups or adults or children. See our wellbeing page for more details.
BOOKING & FURTHER INFORMATION:
Fill in the Environmental Education Project contact form:
Or email us for further information at: rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk
Or ring 01283 535039 (Answerphone)