Funded visits for schools and groups
Thank you for your interest in funded visits, this offer is now fully booked. Please see other group opportunities including travel grants.
We were able to offer funded visits, including a grant of up to £15 per young person towards travel costs, to eligible schools and groups as part of a DEFRA-funded project that aims to give 14,760 young people aged 7-18 years living in areas of social disadvantage in England an opportunity to connect with nature in our protected landscapes.
Day visits include farm and woodland discovery with the Countryside Education Trust in Beaulieu, or nature connection, coast and river experiences, or an evening under the stars with the New Forest National Park Education and Youth and Ranger teams.
Eligibility criteria:
- Young people aged 7-18 years
- Schools receiving ≥30% pupil premium
- Groups based in a postcode where IMD scale (1-3)
- Those able to visit by 31 March 2025
Visit providers
The Countryside Education Trust has been running since 1975. We have a farm site with an orchard and productive garden and a woodland site set in semi-ancient woodland with treehouse classrooms, a stream, and a meadow. Our team is made up of expert environmental education specialists.
The New Forest National Park Authority has a dedicated education and youth team that can meet your group for an inspiring experience in the heart of the New Forest. We support learning through hands-on interactive activities that foster curiosity, connection, and care for the Forest. We’ll organise landowner permissions and a pre-visit to find out about the needs of your group to support you along the way.
Visits programme
Home Farm – seasonal farm experience 9.30am – 2.30pm (with CET)
In the autumn, we will harvest fruit to make and taste juice. In the spring we will engage with wool from our sheep. We know that not all children will have the right kit, so we can provide this on arrival. We have a wide range of animals on the farm, from cows to small mammals to ensure everyone can feel confident about handling something – and we are also commoners, with our own New Forest Ponies and pigs. A broad outline of activities will look like this:
- What is farming?
- Animal feeding
- Animal care (mucking out/grooming)
- Growing food for animals and people
- What makes farming in the New Forest special?
- Commoning traditions
- Who owns the animals?
- Who looks after the animals?
- Food from the Forest
Treehouses and ancient woodland 9.30am – 2.30pm (with CET)
The Hartford Stream rises above 40 acres of fenced woodland and runs through them to join the Beaulieu River. Depending on the group’s age, curriculum needs and teacher preferences, the day can be tailored. The following options are available:
- Stream study
- Orienteering, including map reading
- Bushcraft, including shelter building
- Pond-dipping
- Woodland management looking at charcoal making and coppicing and woodland crafts
- Tree trail
Coastal Experience Day (with NFNPA)
A coastal experience following the journey of beach material from cliff to spit looking at coastal erosion, coastal management, and coastal landforms.
Suitable for: KS2 and KS3
Location: Milford-on-Sea
Max 50 participants
River Experience Day (with NFNPA)
A river experience starting from its source with fieldwork techniques and nature connection games designed to suit your students.
Suitable for: KS2, KS3, and KS4 with little or no prior outdoor learning experience.
Location: Whitefield Moor
Max 50 participants (including adults).
Explore your National Park (with NFNPA)
Find out about what makes the New Forest so special. Learn about its commoning heritage and the mosaic of habitats home to a myriad of wildlife. How is this special place protected?
Suitable for: KS2 and KS3.
Location: Bolderwood, Whitefield Moor, or Anderwood.
Max 50 participants (including adults).
Nature connection (with NFNPA)
Slow down and ‘be’ in nature, using a selection of nature connection activities to be curious and discover the natural world at a deeper level.
Suitable for: 7-18 years
Location: various
Max 15 participants
An evening under the stars (with NFNPA, October – March only)
Join our rangers for a couple of hours under the stars. Discover the wildlife that emerges at dusk and enjoy a campfire (weather and site dependent) or activities to appreciate our nocturnal landscape.
Suitable for: 7-18 years
Location: various
Max 15 participants
