Next year we are able to offer 20 free outdoor workshops to schools in deprived areas, thanks to funding from the Barbara Ward Children's Foundation and Thames Water. We also have funding from the Kaye Pemberton Charitable Trust and Richmond Hill Open Gardens that enables us to pay towards the cost of transport to get to Richmond Park, which can be expensive and a barrier for many schools to getting their pupils outside.
We believe it is vital all children have access to outdoor education and as an article about The Wildlife Trusts in the Guardian on 7th November explains ‘Primary schoolchildren should spend at least one hour a day learning and playing in wild places to help improve their wellbeing and confidence’.
Therefore this funding enables us to give children, many of whom may not usually have the opportunity to learn outside, the chance to explore our beautiful nature trail. They can take part in activities such as pond dipping, bird watching, building animal habitats and searching for minibeasts. We are looking forward to introducing hundreds of children to their first newts, frogs, tadpoles and slugs!