Educational visits and forest schools

Educational visits

We offer a range of ranger-led environmental education programmes that support national curriculum requirements for Early Years, Key Stages 1 and 2.

Our activities offer children a unique hands-on experience in safe but natural outdoor classrooms.

Education visits are predominantly run from High Woods Country Park, although other Colchester country park sites can be considered upon request.

Education sessions are ranger-led and start from 10am onwards. They are available to book most weekdays. Pupils will complete three activities during the day. There are many activities to choose from including pond dipping, minibeast hunting and den building. You can specify your preferred activities on the booking enquiry form: Ranger led visit enquiry form. Upon request, sessions can be tailored to specific topics and learning objectives.

As part of your booking you will receive:

• a generic risk assessment
• a timetable for the day
• education visit guidance notes

Once you have completed the relevant enquiry form you will be contacted by the Education Ranger team to confirm your booking.

You should complete the forms with as much notice as possible. Completion of an enquiry form does not constitute a booking; you will receive separate confirmation if the date you have requested is available.

To enquire about your school visiting Highwoods please follow this link: Ranger led visit enquiry form

Self-Led Orienteering

The park also offers 3 permanent orienteering courses with associated maps (beginner, intermediate and advanced) which are ideal for testing map reading and compass skills. These are available from the High Woods Visitor Centre.

Forest school

High Woods Country Park and several other countryside sites have forest school classrooms available for use by forest school leaders.

Highwoods:

• Chestnut Coppice
• Chanterelle
• Brinkley Grove
• Lake View

Countryside sites:

• Wivenhoe Woods
• Hilly Fields
• Welsh Wood
• Ghost Wood

If you want to discuss a forest school site in a different or new location to the sites listed above, contact the Education Ranger directly at Education.Rangers@colchester.gov.uk

To enquire about booking a forest school site please complete the following form: Forest school enquiry form

Hire of our forest school sites are subject to the following:

Public Liability Insurance

You are required to hold a current policy of insurance in respect of public liability or third-party risks (including products liability where appropriate). The relevant limit of indemnity shall be an amount approved by our risk and insurance section and legal section. Under no circumstance shall this be less than £5 million and we reserve the right to require a higher limit if deemed necessary.

Risk assessments

You will also need to submit a risk assessment for the sessions, identifying all risks associated with the events and activities undertaken and what preventative measures you will take to minimise these risks.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

EIAs make sure that project decision-makers think about the likely effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce or offset those effects.

Leader Qualification Certification

A level 3 forest school leader qualification is required to lead all forest school sessions. If you are working towards your level 3, contact the Education Ranger to discuss further.

Fees and charges

View our fees and charges

Contact us

If you have any queries regarding educational visits or forest school site hire, please contact us at Education.Rangers@colchester.gov.uk