We are now accepting bookings for the Spring and Summer 2025 terms – book early as we fill up very quick. School visits take place on Mondays and Tuesdays when the park is closed to the public. We will not be able to take bookings for the autumn 2024 term. Please see below for more details of visits, cost and booking.
Primary school visits
Primary schools can book visits and enjoy an inspiring, hands-on experience of nature, which is closely tied to the National Curriculum. We make sure that every class experiences a wide range of plants and animals (mostly minibeast size) but there are seasonal highlights.
You will see or hear a range of birds at any time of year but these will change with the seasons – our summer migrant birds come back to the UK from Africa in April and leave again in September. Winter migrants arrive here in late September or October. Birds will be nesting from March onwards.
April is a good month for willow blossom, spring flowers, frogspawn and tadpoles, newts and minibeasts. From late May through to October, we can use sweep nets in the meadows to catch grasshoppers, ladybirds, beetles etc. June to October is the best time to see dragonflies and their nymphs in the water. The wildflower meadows are at their peak in late June and July but there are lots of wetland flowers in May and June.
September and October are often much warmer months than March and April and there will still be plenty of invertebrates, such as grasshoppers and dragonflies around. These months also provide good opportunities for looking at seed dispersal.
Due to low water levels, we cannot pond dip at the moment but we can offer microscopy sessions taking a close up look at minibeasts under a digital microscope connected to a giant TCV screen.
Half-day visit
The wardens take the class on a hands-on guided tour of the Park, focussing on the class topic. We stop off at different points around the park to take a close-up look at a selection of habitats and the plants and animals they support, which may vary with the time of year. The tour ends with a minibeast and newt hunt in a walk-in meadow.
Charges*
A tour and minibeast hunt (approximately 10am–12 or 12–2pm) is £100 + VAT.
Day visit
We offer the same hands-on tour as above in the morning plus three group activities in the afternoon (with each group doing each activity for approximately 20 minutes). These activities can include pond dipping, close up observation and sketching of pond invertebrates, birdwatching with binoculars (we have child-friendly binoculars plus singing bird toys for younger children), fun quizzes on seasonal topics and art activities.
Charges*
A morning tour, lunch on-site and three afternoon group activities (approximately 10am – 2.30pm) is £165 + VAT.
Secondary school visits
Please contact the park wardens for more information on and charges for secondary school visits. We can organise:
- a meet and greet for students touring the Peninsula for sustainability and geography topics
- a guided tour of the park
- a day visit with activities
Please note restrictions on group numbers – the park can only accommodate one class of 30 students at any one time.
* Terms and Conditions
Please note that terms and conditions apply to all visits.
The terms and conditions will be provided with the booking form. Please contact gpep@tcv.org.uk or phone 0208 293 1904 to check availability and request a booking form.