COUNTRYSIDE RECREATION
Key Subjects: LEISURE AND TOURISM, TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Description: Students make between one and three separate 2 hour visits to different locations within the Lee Valley Regional Park. The first session provides an introduction to the Regional Park and the challenges it faces in balancing recreational and nature conservation demands. Investigating visitor data and a quick outdoor survey of visitor facilities encourages students to consider the Regional Park and the challenges in collecting such data.
The following session involves a site visit focusing on what motivates them to visit; the Park’s stakeholders; and impact and management of the different users of the Lee Valley Regional Park. These sessions provide a good basis for individual projects based on the Lee Valley Regional Park.
Suitable for: AVCE / GNVQ / A’ Level
Venue(s): Various
Available: All year
THE ABBEY TRAIL
Key Subjects: HISTORY
Description: Through role-play and their imagination, pupils are introduced to historic Waltham Abbey.Who lived in the Cloisters? What evidence still remains?
Suitable for: Year 7 and 8
Venue(s): Abbey Farmhouse
Available: All year
THE ‘GREAT STINK’
Key Subjects: HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY
Description: Discover how Essex Filter Beds cleaned Victorian London’s water ending the ‘Great Stink’ of 1858. Investigate the water cycle and how London’s population growth in the Victorian era affected health. Visit the Filter Beds and find out how its conversion into an unusual nature reserve is helping Lee Valley wildlife.
Suitable for: KS3
Venue(s): The WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre
Available: All year
BITTERNS AND OTHER WATER BIRDS
Key Subjects: SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY
Description: Find out about the life of the Bittern, a rare water bird. What habitat does it need? How is it suited to its habitat and what is Lee Valley Regional Park doing to help conserve it? Observe and record the behavior of some of the water birds in the Lee Valley. Includes work on adaptations and food chains and webs. Binoculars provided.
Suitable for: KS3
Venue(s): River Lee Country Park - Fishers Green entrance
Available: All year
WATERWORKS WATER BIRDS
Key Subjects: SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY
Description: Find out about the water birds at this unique nature reserve. What habitats do they need? How are they suited to their habitats? Observe and record water bird behavior. Will you survive the migration game? Includes work on adaptations and food chains and webs. Binoculars provided.
Suitable for: KS3
Venue(s): The WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre
Available: All year
FOCUS ON DAIRY FARMING - FARM TOUR
Key Subjects: GEOGRAPHY, CITIZENSHIP
Description: A guided tour of a working dairy farm. Find out about the inputs, processes, outputs and conflicts at this excellent example of a primary industry. Possibility of watching cows beingmilked, please enquire at time of booking. Why not take aself-led visit to the rest of the Farm beforeor after your tour to take a closer look at the many different farm animals including rare breeds.What can the farm do to help the environment?
Suitable for: KS3 and KS4
Venue(s): Lee Valley Park Farms
Available: All year
LEISURE AND RECREATION
Key Subjects: GEOGRAPHY, CITIZENSHIP
Description: Following an initial slideshow on the conflicts between nature conservation and recreation in the Lee Valley Regional Park, students work in key user groups to develop a land use plan for a Lee Valley Regional Park site. The session includes a site visit. This programme provides a foundation for school-based activities such as a simulated public enquiry.
Suitable for: KS3 and KS4
Venue(s): Abbey Farmhouse, the WaterWorks Nature Reserve and Golf Centre, River Lee Country Park, Fishers Green, Cheshunt, Gunpowder Park.
Available: All year
WALK IN THE PARK
Key Subjects: VARIOUS
Description: With 26 miles of the Lee Valley Regional Park running from the East India Dock Basin at the Thames to Ware in Hertfordshire, there's bound to be an area of the Regional Park you'd like to explore with your group. To help you explore the history and/or wildlife of the Regional Park, guided walks with our staff are available. Please call the office to discuss potential themes.
Suitable for: Post 16 years
Venue(s): Various
Available: All year
SURVEYING IN LEE VALLEY PARK
Key Subjects: GEOGRAPHY, BIOLOGY, LEISURE & TOURISM, COMMUNITY INVLOVEMENT
Description: Students undertake survey work within the Lee Valley Regional Park under the supervision of school/college staff. Options include visitor surveys (all year), pitfall trap surveys (March-Nov), mammal track surveys (autumn/ winter) dragonfly/butterfly surveys (summer).
Suitable for: GCSE / AVCE / GNVQ / A LEVEL
Venue(s): Various
Available: All Year (see above)
If you'd like to book a self led tour of Lee Valley Park Farms please contact the Information service on 01992 702 200 or by e-mail info@leevalleypark.org.uk
CONSERVATION PROJECTS
Key Subjects: GEOGRAPHY, CITIZENSHIP
We may be able to arrange practical conservation tasks for interested groups. Please call the Youth & Schools Service for up to date information and availability of projects throughout the year.
Available: All year
Each programme is a half day option (approximately 2 hours) unless otherwise stated. If desired schools may make up a full day programme by choosing two programmes or by drawing upon other local resources as appropriate. Programmes have been designed to suit particular key stages but can be adapted to other age groups on request.
Special project weeks and events are run throughout the year. Please check for details.
For more information on how to book, charges or other enquiries, please contact the Youth and Schools Service at:
Lee Valley Park Youth and Schools Service,
Abbey Farmhouse, Abbey Gardens, Waltham
Abbey, Essex, EN9 1XQ
Tel: 01992 702227
Fax: 01992 702230
youthandschools@leevalleypark.org.uk