Education update
Coastal postcard competition
Take part in our new competition to design a postcard of the New Forest National Park Coast.
Come and visit any stretch of the coastline between Calshot spit and Hurst spit. Why not spend a day at Lepe Country Park looking for creatures along the shore or take a walk around Lymington Keyhaven Nature Reserve looking for birds to get your inspiration.
Drawings could include your favourite view, wildlife you’ve spotted or something that reminds you of this special place. Maximum size A4 (21 x 29.7cm)
Designs will be judged in 4 age groups; under 7’s, 8-11, 12-15, 16 plus (age on 26 September).
Winning designs will have their postcard printed and sold locally.
To enter the competition send your postcard design along with your name, age and address to:
Coastal Postcard Competition
New Forest National Park Authority
South Efford House,
Milford Road
Lymington
SO41 0JD
Deadline for entries 26 September 2008
The Year of Food and Farming
The Year of Food and Farming aims to promote healthy living by offering young people direct experience of the countryside, farming and food. The Year runs from September 2007 to July 2008 and during that time, there’ll be exciting opportunities for children to:
- follow the story from 'field to fork'
- explore the importance of food
- make informed decisions about food and healthy nutrition
- watch what happens on a real-life farm
- experience what the countryside can offer
- learn more about environmental issues linked to food and the countryside.
Its easy to get involved just register on The Year of Food and Farming Website at www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk or contact us for more details on opportunities within the New Forest National Park.
Learning outside the classroom
The National Park Authority has been working closely with other environmental education providers across the National Park to produce an exciting new document in celebration of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto. Entitled ‘Learning Outside the Classroom in the New Forest National Park’ this 32 page guide aims to showcase the fantastic opportunities that are available for taking groups into the Park. It provides background information, colour photos, suggestions for study, places to stay and full details of the range of educational opportunities available. This guide is being launched at the Hampshire Outdoor Fair being held at the Guildhall, Winchester on Tuesday 2 October 2007. The Learning Guide is available to download free of charge on the Educational links section of this site.
Fun Zone
The National Park Authority’s very own fun zone is being launched this week. It includes a wildlife guide, quiz and students’ gallery as well as an interactive virtual pony game. The wildlife guide contains stacks of information on the common and unusual species found across the New Forest habitats and aims to support the science curriculum in a fun and visual way. Why not check it out?
Forest Force
The New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council and the Forestry Commission joined together on the 24 March to launch ‘Forest Force,’ a week-long mass event aimed at encouraging hundreds of volunteers to take a stand against litter in the National Park. Throughout the week groups such as Parish Councils, Rotary groups and brownies volunteered to clean up the Forest, and concerned individuals joined daily litter picks across the National Park. Children were also ‘doing their bit’ litter-picking at a number of local schools; making this the biggest combined effort in over 30 years of spring clean events. All this activity brought the total amount of litter collected to a staggering 143 bags since February. This was a great start to tackling one of the big issues within the National Park. It is now up to us all to help ensure the Forest remains a litter free environment!
Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto
The Government launched its Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto on the 28 November 2006 and in so doing provided the most high profile endorsement of the value of learning outside the classroom for many years. This is a fantastic step in recognising the importance of real life experiences across the curriculum. The New Forest National Park Authority fully endorses the Manifesto and along with the other 13 national parks in the UK has become a signatory to it pledging to support the action points outlined within the document. View the New Forest National Park Authority pledge and read more about the Manifesto here
