Lower Derwent Valley: school and community groups
Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve offers exciting and engaging outdoor learning opportunities.
It is a seasonally changing environment, where nature and man live and work in harmony. We want to be able to tell people about the history of the area, the importance of the Lower Derwent Valley as a floodplain, as an RAMSAR site for wildfowl and nationally significant grassland habitat.
Bring a group to learn how important a site it is for migrating birds, or whats special about our meadows - its’ up to you!
Activity sessions for school or community groups led by our Community Outreach Advisor and volunteers.
Spectacular habitats to explore
Curriculum linked sessions
Equipment such as quadrats, environmental games and pond dipping resources available for use on site.
Primary school visits
Sessions are linked to the Curriculum and support the Every Child Matters agenda and Learning outside the Classroom initiative. Biodiversity work can be credited towards the Eco School award scheme.
All activities can be adapted to suit the particular needs of your group and the topics you would like to cover.
We offer a range of activities suitable for classes from Primary Schools all year round.
Primary school programme: (86kb)
Other school or group visits
Groups can help with surveying key species on the site, see seasonal highlights or get involved with practical conservation challenges on the NNR. Activities can be adapted to suit the size and interests of each group, so contact the Community Outreach Adviser to discuss the opportunities.
Practical information
Facilities: Access to the reserve is limited to a few points, where car parks are provided. These have height barriers so make sure you have contacted the Reserve before your visit. The bird hides provide a chance to get closer to the bird life and the Reserve base has a small room which can be used with groups. Please make sure your group wears suitable footwear and clothing and has additional layers or protection depending on the season.
Toilets: There are toilet facilities at the Reserve base at Bank Island (near Wheldrake).
Health and safety: It is the schools responsibility to ensure adequate pupil: adult ratios, with appropriate CRB checks in place for adults on the visit. Natural England Outreach staff and volunteers all have CRB checks and first aid training. They will carry a standard first aid kit, but the teacher / group leader should carry any specific first aid requirements of individuals such as inhalers or epipens. Although an activity programme can be arranged over the phone or by e-mail, a teacher pre-visit to Lower Derwent Valley NNR is recommended to gain a clear understanding of the site and establish the objectives of the visit. See Notes for Teachers: (55kb)
.Access: Lower Derwent Valley NNR is the floodplain to the river Derwent and is therefore inaccessible at certain points of the year, depending on rainfall on the North York Moors. Most school visits stay close to the reserve base, but once into surrounding fields there are no paths and there are steps up to the bird hides. Please make us aware of access or other needs when planning your visit so that we can accommodate these.
Directions: Visits are usually led from the Bank Island car park just outside Wheldrake. There is a bus stop for this location or minicoaches could park at the car park once the height barrier has been raised.
How to book: for more information or to book a school session please contact Kerry Netherway on 0300 060 4348, or e-mail kerry.netherway@naturalengland.org.uk
