Learn
Hampshire’s countryside provides an ideal outdoor classroom to engage and inspire young people.
With a wide variety of landscapes - hills and heaths, forest and downland, rivers, streams and coastal areas, water meadows and woodland – it's the perfect place to learn about nature and the outdoors.
This rich tapestry offers excellent opportunities for children and young people to experience their surroundings in exciting and unexpected ways. We work with schools, local authorities, badge groups, parents and carers to provide an exciting range of teaching and learning opportunities outside the classroom.
The many benefits of outdoor education include:
- develops key skills
- promotes health and fitness
- raises achievement
- improves social skills
- develops independence
- makes learning more relevant
- stimulates, inspires and motivates
- improves attitude to learning
- encourages responsibility
- supports a wide range of curriculum areas
Educational resources
Head over to the Hampshire Countryside Service Pollinator Hub for downloadable educational resources and videos.
Our learning opportunities
At each site, our dedicated and experienced staff work closely with teachers when planning a visit. They can make suggestions for the programme and sessions, supplying information and resources in order to meet learning objectives. We can help support both guided and self-guided groups from early years to university age.
A pre-visit is strongly recommended so teachers can familiarise themselves with location, facilities and safety considerations.
Basingstoke Canal
Bring your group to the Canal Centre for the day, where a package of activities is tailored to your requirements - covering the history, wildlife and maintenance of the canal.
Check out the Basingstoke canal website for more information.
Lepe Country Park
There is plenty of historical interest at Lepe Country Park with the remains of a major D-Day launching point on site.
Ranger led and self-led groups, activity packs and equipment available for hire.
Have a look at Lepe's education pack and further information about group visits.
Manor Farm
Living history activities at Manor Farm give children hands-on experience of Victorian life in the farmyard, cottage or school room while the varied landscape provides opportunities for field studies.
Suitable for early years, KS1 and KS2.
Find out more about the educational activities at Manor Farm.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
A wide range of educational opportunities are available at Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Activities are available to suit all age groups include 'minibeasts' through to conservation and countryside management.
Find out more about group visits to Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Staunton Country Park
The Education Team at Staunton Country Park provide a programme of guided sessions and independent packages from early years to adult education courses on a variety of topics.
Continued professional development days for teaching staff are also available.
Make your visit a day to remember with educational activities at Staunton Country Park.
Staunton Farm
The Education Team at Staunton Farm provides a programme of guided sessions and independent packages from early years to adult education courses on a variety of topics. The farm also runs a 14 to 16 years animal care programme.
Continued professional development days for teaching staff are also available.
Suitable for all age groups.
Titchfield Haven
A programme of self-guided activities linked to the curriculum is available.
Suitable for all age groups.
Royal Victoria Country Park
Once the site of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, the country park offers a wide range of environmental education activities and Victorian social history. Children can also explore parkland, woodland, seashore and ponds.
Suitable for KS1 and KS2.
For more information about school and group visits, check the Royal Victoria Country Park website.
Rights of way
The Access Team manage nearly 3000 miles of rights of way across Hampshire.
These paths can offer access to your local area and the countryside beyond, providing a valuable resource for learning, recreation and sustainable transport.
Local sites
Many Hampshire schools are making use of their local area as a context for learning or as a learning focus.
Local exploration enables children to widen their knowledge of familiar and unfamiliar places. By engaging with their own locality children will hopefully develop a sense of responsibility for it.