School Trips

The variety of habitats within the Park make it an ideal place for learning about the natural world. Here at Itchen Valley Country Park, pupils can explore broadleaved and coniferous woodland, water meadows, grassland and pond habitats. Additionally, the River Itchen can be viewed from the Park.

A range of science and geography topics are studied by Hampshire schools year round, from pre-school teddy trails to Key Stage 1 habitat explorations to Key Stage 2 renewable energy experiments to GCSE & A Level ecology and tourism studies. 

Contact our Education Officer (ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk or 023 8047 5082) for tips on how to bring your topic to life. Booking a pre-visit with our Education Officer is recommended to help you complete your risk assessment and make the most of the Park's facilities.

Activity Suggestions Pre-school Key Stage 1 & 2 Key Stage 3 & 4 Park Facilities Risk Assessments

• For further information download our teachers briefing pack.  pdf

Activity Suggestions

Bring your pupils to the Park and learn about habitats, plants and environmental issues out in the field. We can assist you with ideas, equipment hire or even lead some activities to help you meet your curriculum requirements.

Pre-school

Teddy Bears Picnic: Take the Teddy Trail to learn the country code and finish with a Teddy Bear's Picnic.

Bugs & Beasts in Brass: Take a crayon out on the brass trail to find out animals that live in the Park.

Key Stage 1 & 2

Science & Sustainable Development.

Habitats: Go on a bug hunt in the pond and the outdoor classroom and compare the creatures you find. How are they adapted to live in the different habitats? Use ID keys to sort and name your creatures.  Food chains can be made.

Led hour long walks include: Animal Sensory Walk, Pond Explorers or Bug Explorers.

Plants: Look for flowers, learn the different parts of a plant, pollination, seed dispersal, tree studies.

Led hour long walks include: Tree Explorers, Autumn Seed Dispersal Walk, Autumn Getting Ready for Winter Walk.

Energy: Hour long sessions are led on Our Carbon Footprints or Climate Change Conundrum. Or come to the Park and use our turbine, rainwater harvesting toilets and ground source heat pump to inspire a debate of your own.

Key Stage 3,  4 and A Level

Science & Geography

Energy: Is climate change happening? What is the evidence? How big are our carbon footprints? How do we compare to other global citizens? What renewable technologies are the Park using to tackle climate change?

Citizenship: What are our responsibilities when visiting the countryside? Explore how the Countryside Code allows the park to be enjoyed by a range of visitors. Our staff can give an illustrated talk.

Tourism: What are the positive and negative impacts of visitors to the park? How can the Park sustainably manage it's visitor impact? Our staff can give an illustrated talk.

Environment and feeding relationships: Collect and compare the invertebrates in the pond, broadleaved and coniferous woodland environments. Check out how they are suited to their habitat, how the organisms interact, and construct food webs.

Park Facilities

Outdoor Classroom

An enclosed woodland area with seating, near to the Visitor Centre is ideal for the safe study of trees, plants, minibeasts and sensory activities. This area is free from dogs and members of the public.

Pond

Teachers with an Open Country certificate can hire nets and trays to dip for aquatic life in the dipping pond, or our Education Officer can lead a "Pond Explorers" session.

Classroom

Our new Kingfisher Classroom can be hired for the day. Whiteboard, projector and screen are fitted. An invaluable space for lunch and shelter if it decides to rain.

Equipment Hire

Pond Dip Kit, Minibeast Hunting Gear, blindfolds, parachute game and clipboards are available to hire.

Hire an Activity Leader

A variety of activities and talks with our Education Officer are available. Contact ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk or 02380 475082 to discuss your group requirements. All activities are 1 hour.

Animal Sensory Walk: A variety of sensory challenges and games allow pupils to imagine how woodland animals use thier senses for survival. (Key Stage 1)

Pond Explorers: Armed with nets, discover the many creatures living in the pond habitat. What are their names? How are they adapted to survive life underwater? Who eats who? Complement the session with a minibeast hunt to compare invertebrates found in each habitat. (Key Stage 1 & 2)

Bug Explorers: Explore leaf litter, tree tops and grass meadows to discover the minibeasts, their food chains, camouflage and adaptations within a variety of habitats. Learn about their role in nutrient recycling. (Key Stage 1 & 2)

Tree Explorers: A fun sensory walk using games and challenges to take a closer look at trees and their life processes. You'll see trees in a new light! (Key Stage 2)

Autumn Seed Dispersal: A walk packed with games to show how and why seeds disperse. (Key Stage 1 & 2)

Autumn Getting Ready for Winter: What changes are happening to the plants and animals in the woods this autumn season? How animals prepare to survive the cold months. (Key Stage 1)

Our Carbon Footprints: Pupils look at their use of energy in the home and calculate their carbon footprint. They compare theirs to others in the class and footprints from citizens from around the world. (Key Stage 2 & 3)

Climate Change Conundrum: Using our wind turbine as inspiration, learn about and debate the pros and cons of wind power as a solution to climate change. (Key Stage 2 & 3)

Leisure & Tourism Illustrated Talk: What are the conflicts and pressures at Itchen Valley Country Park, and how do we manage these? (Key Stage 3, 4 and A Level)

The Countryside Code: An illustrated talk exploring our responsibilities when visiting the countryside. Ideal for a citizenship topic. (Key Stage 3)

Visitor Centre & Toilets

Interactive displays available about animals and their habitats & climate change topics. A shop and cafe can be visited in groups of 10. Our new rainwater harvesting toilets were fitted in 2007 offering more toilets and sinks. Plenty of benches available for picnic lunches. Amphitheatre to seat 60 is ideal for lunch or as a gathering point.

Risk Assessments

Full site and activity risk assessments are available upon booking. Contact our Education Officer on ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk or 02380 475082.