Youth & Schools
The Youth and Schools Service is here to help teachers, lecturers and youth group leaders utilise the Lee Valley Park’s huge potential as an educational resource.
This year we have launched a brand new programme of activities for students with special needs. Within this programme we provide more flexible sessions with a range of sensory and art options.
We offer a series of half-day educational programmes for primary schools, designed to help meet the requirements of the National Curriculum for key stages 1 and 2 and to link to some QCA schemes of work. Many programmes have accompanying pupil’s project books and activity packs for teachers.
Full and half-day programmes are offered for secondary schools and colleges on topics such as leisure and recreation, conservation and land use which can help meet National Curriculum, GCSE, BTECH, GNVQ, AVCE and A-Level criteria. We can also help arrange self-led visits.
Various activities are available for youth groups including countryside and conservation projects, orienteering, habitat studies and birdwatching. In addition we can devise programmes to cater for outdoor badge work and award schemes.
All the programmes are designed to be accessible to young people of all abilities. Where necessary we will adapt programmes to suit the needs of individuals or groups with particular mobility or educational needs.
LeeValley Regional Park
The Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles from Ware in Hertfordshire to the banks of the River Thames at East India Dock Basin. The Park’s landscape ranges from rural to industrial and urban and includes important heritage sites such as the 15th Century Rye House Gatehouse.
A mixture of marshes, grassland, wooded areas, meadows, open water and rivers support a variety of wildlife and sustains a large population of birds, for which the park is internationally important. Protected areas have been designated as nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A host of leisure facilities are also found throughout the Park. The activities available range from swimming, ice skating and horse riding through to cycling and golf. Residential accommodation for Youth and School groups is available at Lee Valley Village Youth Hostel in Cheshunt (Tel: 0870 770 6118 for booking information). The Youth and Schools Service can assist with putting together packages of activities for Youth Hostel residents.
For more information on how to book, charges or other enquiries, please contact the Youth and Schools Service at:
Postal problems
The Youth and Schools Service have been experiencing problems with mail deliveries, please contact the Service on 01992 702227 if you have concerns that you have not received a response. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
Foot and Mouth
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority continues to monitor DEFRA advice in relation to the Foot and Mouth situation. We are presently taking a precautionary approach however, please be advised that visitors may be asked to dip their shoes in disinfectant prior to entering the farms. Please ensure that all members of your group are wearing appropriate footwear e.g Wellingtons, boots, rubber or plastic trainers. Please note that it is only the soles of the shoes that need to be dipped.
The rest of your visit will not be affected.
In the highly unlikely event that Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has to cancel a farm visit we will refund the visit charge made, however we are unfortunately unable to refund any other costs incurred such as coach hire.
If a visit is cancelled by the school or visiting group after the cancellation period outlined on the booking letter the school/ group are liable for the full charge.
Bookings at Abbey Farmhouse, Waltham Abbey
Due to a change in building ownership, classroom space is now limited at Abbey Farmhouse, Waltham Abbey. If you wish to book a programme that is run from this site please book early to avoid disappointment.