Wilder Schools
LAUNCHING IN AUTUMN 2026, WILDER SCHOOLS IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME WHICH ENABLES CHILDREN TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND CARE FOR WILDLIFE IN THEIR SCHOOL GROUNDS.
Through nature-focused, curriculum-linked sessions, their Wilder Schools programme aims to improve children’s wellbeing and learning, and to empower school communities to maximise the biodiversity of their sites.
A key component of the programme is teacher training – growing the confidence of teachers to teach outside the classroom.
Initially, they will be working with Primary schools across each of their three counties and, in time, the programme will be extended to Secondary schools, and potentially other educational settings.
Their Officers will work with one group of children through the three years, starting while the children are lower Key Stage 2.
They will also work with the whole school community through, for example, assemblies, meetings and fundraising initiatives.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Apart from where indicated, this service is free to schools and is funded by the generosity of their supporters.
Donations are gratefully received.
YEAR ONE – DISCOVERY AND ACTION PLANNING
- One visit a month from one of their Learning Officers, including an initial planning meeting with staff, introductory assembly and teacher training.
- Pupils complete baseline habitat surveys in school grounds, plan and develop their project, culminating in a community action day to realise the plan.
- Where possible, year one will include a visit to one of their Learning Hubs with their Wilder Schools receiving preferential booking for limited places (this is a paid-for service, though some schools will qualify for their bursary scheme).
YEAR TWO – SCHOOL-BASED ACTION
- One visit a term, including INSET days.
- Pupils continue to monitor gains for nature in school grounds, undertake identified actions for nature and to connect to nature.
- School continues to embed outdoor learning in teacher practice.
YEAR THREE – BUILDING A NETWORK
- One visit a term, including INSET days.
- Celebration of successes, review meetings and engagement with Wilder Schools network.
NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE
THE NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE OFFERS A GREAT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY
We all need nature – for clean water, food and fresh air – but nature needs us too.
Their mission is to bring about nature’s recovery by inspiring and empowering local people and partners to help bring nature back.
The Nature Discovery Centre is surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats with fantastic wildlife to see all year around, packed full of interactive wildlife and natural history displays.
There is a network of footpaths ranging from small family-friendly walks to longer paths for the more adventurous.
Surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats, there is fantastic wildlife to see all year round.
During the autumn and winter, large groups of wintering wildfowl congregate on the lake, whilst the reedbeds and surrounding woodland and hedgerows host birds like fieldfare and redwing.
In spring and summer, purpose-built rafts attract breeding common terns.
House martins, swallows and swifts are a common sight over the lake and surroundings.
In summer there are glorious displays of purple loosestrife, yellow-flag iris, reeds and sedges on the floating island, the lake shore and in the reedbeds.
All year around look out for the willow and alder around the edge of the lake, and hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle and bullace in the hedgerows.
variety of moths and butterflies can be seen, including garden tiger, butterbur, waved black, holly blue, and gatekeeper.
There are dragonflies and damselflies including beautiful and banded demoiselles, emperor and four-spotted chaser.
A range of beetles such as bloody-nosed beetle and rhinoceros beetle have been recorded on site.
Discover autumn colours, fabulous fungi and wintering wildfowl.
01635 874381
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