Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom and the Great Fen
Educational opportunities
School visits
The Countryside Classroom is set in a five hectare nature reserve on the site of a Victorian brick and tile works on the edge of the Great Fen. The classroom is being upgraded over the winter to create a comfortable meeting room for use all the year round by adult and school groups alike. The renovations will also provide improved access and facilities, including a new toilet block, and a small kitchen to enable us to provide basic refreshments.
The classroom will open again in April 2008 providing a gateway to the Great Fen Project and offering a wide range of curriculum-linked activities on site for visiting groups from pre-school to sixth form, and at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve for KS2 and above. Experienced Education staff work with teachers, usually at a pre-visit meeting, to plan a programme of learning to meet their objectives and provide an enjoyable outdoor experience. A taste of the activities on offer is given below and in the linked downloads.
Really Wild Days Out
Really Wild Days Out is a suite of education activites delivered by experienced education officers and trained volunteers. There are a wide range of activities including a Minibeast Morning and Autumn Amble for pre-school age children, and Home Sweet Home, Wetland Safari, Munchline Monitors, Wild Art and a host of other offerings for Key Stages 1 and 2.
During the spring term, KS2 groups can take part in escorted half-day Great Fen visits with the Wildlife Trust and Natural England staff. On a walk around Woodwalton Fen, they will experience a typical fen, learn about fenland wildlife and history, and visit an Edwardian gentleman’s bungalow as well as finding out about plans for the future. From April, KS2 groups can make a half day visit to Woodwalton Fen combined with a half day at the Countryside Classroom.
Really Wild Days Out visits have a charge of £4 per child for a full-day, or £2.50 for a half-day. Accompanying adults may attend free of charge and are required at a ratio of 1:5 for KS1 and 1:8 for KS2.
We prepare up-to-date risk assessments for each site and activity to help you plan your visit. Photographic consent is sought for each group on booking.
All programmes on offer are detailed in the Really Wild Days Out brochure and Ramsey Heights School Visits 2008.
Additional information for teachers is found in Your day at Ramsey Heights Countryside Classroom.
To arrange a visit or discuss the programmes, please get in touch with Helen Moore, the centre manager.
Sixth form fieldwork
The nature reserves at Ramsey Heights and nearby Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve offer sixth form students excellent opportunities to acquire knowledge and experience of a wide variety of wetland habitats and diversity of species. The education team are experienced teachers with a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help students get the most from their visit. The A-level programmes have been developed in conjunction with Grafham/Buckden Education Centre where similar programmes have been running very successfully for some years with positive feedback from teachers and students. Information about possible studies can be found in Opportunities for sixth form fieldwork at the Great Fen document.
The education team at Ramsey Heights also deliver a sixth form programme on the Wildlife Trust's Old Sulehay Nature Reserve near Wansford, which has grassland and woodland habitats. Details are in Opportunities for sixth form fieldwork at Ring Haw Field Station on Old Sulehay Nature Reserve. Charges for 'A' level fieldwork visits are £12 per student for a full day with a minimum charge of £160, and £7.50 per student for a half day with a minimum charge of £100.
To arrange a visit or discuss a programme, please get in touch with Helen Moore, the centre manager.
Project work for higher/further education
Students in higher or continuing education are offered a range of opportunities for the development of practical skills and wildlife conservation knowledge. Please contact the Wildlife Trust Ecology Groups officer for advice about surveying and monitoring projects available at Trust sites on 01223 713519 or ecologygroups@wildlifebcnp.org
Teacher training opportunities
Many teachers are interested in teaching their students in an outside environment. The Wildlife Trust education staff are experienced field teachers who are eager to pass along their skills in leading outdoor education for people of all ages. Advice, training and support are provided to teachers through one-to-one meetings, orientation sessions and workshops. Schools and community groups are encouraged to use Wildlife Trust sites and other green spaces for 'real world' learning, and Trust education staff can help build the skills and confidence to do so. For more information, please get in touch with the centre manager.