Paul Grimshaw
Education at Far Ings
Far Ings National Nature Reserve lies just outside Barton-upon-Humber. With over 200 acres of National Nature Reserve with open water, reedbed, meadow and woodland habitats, it provides opportunities to experience and learn about the natural world first hand.
Penny Dixie
Educational services for schools
The education offer provided by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at Far Ings National Nature Reserve takes place in a variety of different habitats from ponds and reedbeds to meadows and woodlands. For primary schools we have three main themes: Lincolnshire Environments, Lincolnshire’s Wildlife and Experience Nature. For secondary schools we provide hands-on fieldwork.
Activities - Primary
Designed to enhance what you do in the classroom; the sessions connect children with nature through hands-on experience. Divided into three themes, there is a range of activities to choose from, within your chosen theme, to suit your visit and learning outcomes.
Choose from one of three themes for your visit:
- Lincolnshire’s Wildlife - A day of exploring the natural world and discovering the wildlife, animals and plants that live around us.
- Lincolnshire’s Environments - Take a walk through time as you discover the changes in the environment brought about by human and natural activities.
- Experience Nature - An immersive day connecting with nature through a combination of natural art, storytelling, exploration and senses and emotions.
Activities - Secondary
Far Ings Education and Visitor Centre is surrounded by over 200 acres of National Nature Reserve with freshwater, reedbed, meadow and woodland habitats offering a variety of opportunities for practical fieldwork, sampling techniques and identification techniques including:
- Belt transects
- Random sampling
- Freshwater ecology and surveying
- Mark, release, recapture
Facilities
- Secure outdoor classroom area with picnic facilities close to the centre
- Purpose built pond platforms
- Large accessible bird hide
- Extensive stocks of field study equipment, resources, and activities for your visit.
- Two large classrooms and cloakroom areas
- Toilet and handwashing facilities exclusively for school use
- Step-free access throughout
The reserve
Far Ings is situated on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, a major east-west flyway for migrating birds. Thanks to pioneering management by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the reserve is now rich in wildlife, hosting a great range of habitats for wildlife including reedbeds, open water, meadow and scrub land.
For more information about the reserve and it's wildlife visit the main Far Ings page.
Planning your visit
All group leaders can benefit from a free site pre-visit and planning session with our Education Officer who will supply you with:
- Relevant risk assessments and health and safety information
- A draft programme of activities for your group
- Familiarisation with the on-site facilities
On the event day, you will also receive:
- Free all day coach parking
- A full day running from 10am until 2.30pm (additional time can be arranged at an additional cost)
All activity equipment for your day will be provided.
Group rates
At Far Ings Education Centre we can cater for up to two groups (max 35 per group) at any one time. Each group will benefit from their own dedicated Education Officer who will lead all your pre-booked activities.
Each group of up to 35 primary school students is £200 for the day. Groups of up to 35 secondary school students are £250 for the day.
To check availability, to book or enquire about your visit to Far Ings Education Centre please contact the Education Officers using the contact details below.
Contact details
If you are interested in bringing a school group please contact:
Senior Education & Community Officer
Far Ings Visitor Centre
Far Ings Road
Barton-Upon-Humber
North Lincolnshire
DN18 5RG
Tel: 01652 637055
Email: faringseducation@lincstrust.co.uk
Guy Edwardes/2020VISION
For families
Far Ings Education Centre offers activities for schools as well as events for families. The centre is within easy reach of Hull, Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe.
Take a look below at our activities for families and children, or give our Facebook page a follow for the latest news and events.
Nature Tots
Seasonal activities for the under 5s
Monthly outdoor activities designed to educate, entertain and inspire your under 5s about nature. Each session follows a given theme and can include crafts, songs, story time and additional activities, ranging from wild art to minibeast safaris, and puddle jumps to scavenger hunts. Nature Tots is always great fun!
Sessions will take place outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Your Tot will need to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Booking essential.
Find out more information on our Nature Clubs page here.
Wildlife Watch
An exciting nature club for 5 to 11 year olds
Wildlife Watch sessions include a wide range of activities and topics to engage your 5-11 year old’s with the natural world. Whether its insects, birds or folklore, each month’s sessions are built on an ever-growing array of topics. Come on down to explore nature with us!
Sessions will take place outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Wildlife Watchers will need to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Booking essential.
Find out more information on our Nature Clubs page here.
Junior Wardens
An introduction to conservation for youngsters aged 11 to 18
For those young people aged 11-18 wanting to learn how best to experience and take care of the natural world. With a mix of practical conservation tasks and educational sessions, we promise to teach you what there is to find in nature and how to look after it. Join us for woodland management, fungi forays, wildlife identification and more!
Sessions will take place outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Junior Wardens aged 16 and under will need adult supervision in sessions involving tool use. Booking essential.
Find out more information on our Nature Clubs page here.
Home Education sessions
An exciting nature club for Home Education children and their families
Our Home Education sessions are a great way for your children to explore their surroundings and get closer to the wildlife that shares it. Events take place once a month in the woodland classroom so please dress to spend the session outside. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Find out more information on our Nature Clubs page here.
Room hire
Facilities are available to hire for training, meetings, small conferences, away days and gatherings.
The Education Centre has three areas available for hire, an upstairs gallery with stunning views, and two downstairs classrooms. These rooms are capable of seating 30 people cabaret style or 45 people theatre style. The gallery can seat 20 people cabaret style or 30 people theatre style. There is ample car parking and the Education Centre is fully accessible.
The Centre also offers an enclosed outdoor space exclusive for users of the Education Centre. This area is suitable for a range of outdoor activities as well as offering a relaxing space for breaks.
Equipment
Equipment can be set up in a variety of styles to suit your needs and includes:
- Tables and chairs
- Flipchart stands with pads and pens
- Multi-media projector and screen
- Speakers for laptops
- Writing paper and pencils
Catering facilities
Light refreshments can be arranged including tea, coffee and biscuits. If you prefer to bring in your own caterers we can work with you to arrange this.
Away days
All of our Education Centre staff are CRB checked and first aid trained. We have many years experience in delivering environmental education, nature conservation and outdoor recreation. We aim to make your day run as smoothly as possible.
If you would like an ‘away day’ with a difference our Education Officers can organise environmental training and activity days tailored to meet your needs, which include:
- Environmental Education Training Sessions
- INSET days for teaching staff
- Practical conservation training, projects and tasks
- Team building games and activities
- Guided walks and talks
Hire rates
All trainers can benefit from a free site tour with our Centre staff so we can tailor your training needs to best enhance your day. It also gives trainers a valuable opportunity to explore the Nature Reserve prior to your day. We can also supply relevant risk assessments and other health and safety information you may require.
| Room Hire (half day) | £75.00 |
| Room Hire (full day) | £150.00 |
| Refreshments (half day) | £20 (inc. VAT) |
| Refreshments (full day) | £30 (inc. VAT) |
Contact
To check availability, to book or enquire about your visit please contact:
Far Ings Education Officers
Far Ings National Nature Reserve
Far Ings Road
Barton-upon-Humber
North Lincolnshire
DN18 5RG
Tel: 01652 637055
Email: faringscentre@lincstrust.co.uk
Emma Bradshaw
Become a Wildlife Watch member
On signing up, our junior members will receive a starter pack full of wild goodies, along with a 24-page magazine and local newsletter every four months, filled with activities, news and competitions.