Environmental Education Project
Our Environmental Education Project team develops and runs school and public events and activities across the District and The National Forest.
Based at Rosliston Forestry Centre, it holds the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge and works with partners such as the National Forest Company, Rolls-Royce PLC, Forestry England, The Woodland Trust and Sainsbury's to provide interesting and engaging opportunities locally and nationally. We won national and international awards for our work in 2003, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2024.
Schools and other customers come from across the National Forest and the Midlands – Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Birmingham and beyond.
The aim is to enable people to learn about nature and the environment whilst having fun. We also promote the built environment and the District’s unique cultural and industrial heritage.
We work with individuals, schools, families, local environmental groups and businesses on a varied programme of activities including paid-for sessions and volunteering activities.
Events and activities include free tree giveaways, gardening drop-ins, science discovery days and family fun 'Wildlife Watch' sessions (pdf, 4.4mb) like pond-dipping. We run Rosliston Rangers volunteer group, South Derbyshire Environmental Forum network group, and organise corporate environmental team building days. We also have free self-guided trails for Rosliston and Swadlincote focussing on general heritage and points of interest eg Tree Trail, Japanese Trail, Swadlincote Heritage Trails, and five WW1 Commemorative local walks.
For schools, we deliver sessions linked to the curriculum subjects, including science, geography, history, music, literacy, technology, maths, art and design.
Our sessions are designed to appeal to all pupils, whatever their ability or preferred learning style. They include titles like ‘Working the Woods - past, present and future' (where you develop your own trail routes), as well as more traditional environmental education.
More hands-on experiences include bushcraft, fire-lighting/campfire cooking and ‘Forest School’ taster days.
We also offer a tailor-made package for schools - you tell us your requirements and we will do our best to deliver a package to suit you and your pupils. This may include training for you and your colleagues. We would be happy to meet you, show you the facilities and discuss your requirements in person.
We have comprehensive up-to-date risk assessments
Further information on the Environmental Education Project Team and all our leaflets and information for schools, businesses and other groups can be found on the Rosliston Forestry Centre website or by emailing: rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk or by telephoning 01283 535039.
You can book a Primary School or Early Years school visit to Rosliston Forestry Centre online here: www.southderbyshire.gov.uk/rosliston-school-bookings.
Please email us for Secondary School, Colleges, Corporate and other group bookings.
There are regular updates on our activities on our social channels
- Environmental Education Project Facebook page
- This Group for schools National Forest Facebook Group for Schools.
- A network group for adults and local environmental organisations South Derbys Environmental Forum Facebook Group
- X @RoslistonEnvEd.
- Youtube
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