Whisby Education Centre

Whisby Nature Park

Rachel Shaw

Whisby Education Centre

Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park

Whisby Education Centre lies just outside Lincoln, surrounded by 370 acres of nature reserve. It has been carefully designed to balance countryside recreation, nature conservation and environmental education.

With regular events planned for all ages it presents unique opportunities to experience and learn about the natural world first hand.

Educational opportunities

School Visit

Helena Dolby for Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust

For schools

Education services for schools

The education service offered by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at Whisby Nature Park has a wide range of activities from pond dipping and minibeast hunts to orienteering and storytelling. All activities offered can be linked to the National Curriculum to meet your education requirements.

The centre can cater for students from the age of 5 upwards and offers a true outdoor learning experience.

All our Education Centre staff are fully qualified, DBS checked and have many years of experience in teaching and leading environmental education, nature conservation and outdoor recreation.

Facilities

The Education Centre offers:

  • Two large indoor classrooms capable of seating 60 children in each
  • Cloakroom for bags and wet gear
  • Disabled and early years friendly
  • Ample toilets and hand washing facilities
  • Self enclosed outdoor learning area
  • Exclusive use of the purpose built Education Centre and grounds

The reserve

Whisby Nature Park was previously used as a sand and gravel quarry, but after extensive conservation work it now consists of scenic lakes surrounded by grassland, marsh and scrub; a diverse habitat that attracts a wide variety of birds and wildlife.

For more information on the reserve and it's wildlife, visit the reserves page.

Planning your visit

Your visit includes:

  • Free site tour and planning visit for the group leader
  • Relevant risk assessments and health and safety information
  • Free all day coach parking (there is a £2 charge for cars)
  • A full day running from 10am until 2.30pm

All health and safety equipment will also be provided and tailored to your activities and needs.

Activities

Your day usually consist of three activities for your class (this varies depending on choice of activity, curriculum targets etc. and can be discussed upon booking).

  • Pond Dipping
  • Minibeast Safari - Identification, classification and adaptation
  • Wild Art
  • Story Telling
  • Going on a Bear Hunt
  • Whisby Wood Elves and Faeries
  • Den Building
  • Fungi Foray (Autumn) - Their place in the ecosystem, identification and classification
  • Seasonal Wildlife Workshops
  • Basic Bushcraft*
  • Habitat Comparison - Water and woodland
  • Bird Watching and Surveying of Birds
  • Terrific Trees
  • Percy the Park Keeper - Storytelling and building miniature animal homes
  • Surveying Techniques
  • Teacher INSET Training Days
 

* Group size dependent

Group rates

At Whisby 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 Whisby 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:

Whisby Education Centre
Whisby Nature Park
Moor Lane
Thorpe-on-the-Hill
Lincoln
LN6 9BW

Tel: 01522 696926
Email: whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk

Kids on nature reserves

Misty Hutton

For families

Educational activities for families

Explore your surroundings and get closer to the wildlife you share it with! There's something for all ages at Whisby.

Take a look at our clubs and events for children below, 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. 

When: Usually the first Wednesday of the month, 10am - 11am, check our events page for details
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Moor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Whisby, LN6 9BW
Price: £3 per Tot
Contact: Education Officer, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.

Wildlife Watch

Nature club for around 5 to 12 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, bushcraft 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.

When: Usually second Saturday of the month, 10.00am - 11.30am, check our events page for details
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, LN6 9BW
Price: £3 per child
Contact: Education Officer, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.

Junior Wardens

An introduction to conservation for youngsters aged 10 to 18

For those young people aged 10-18 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 dives into Lincolnshire’s prehistoric past.

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.

When: First Saturday of the month, 10am - 12:30am, check our events page for details
Where: Whisby Education Centre, Moor Lane, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Whisby, LN6 9BW
Price: £1 per person
Contact: Education Officer, 01522 696926, whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk. Booking essential.

Classroom

Room hire

Room hire at Whisby Nature Park

Facilities are available to hire for training, meetings, small conferences, away days and gatherings.

The Education Centre is a modern purpose built centre with stunning views from the light and spacious training rooms. The Nature Park has ample car parking and the Education Centre is fully accessible.

The Centre has two accessible 130m2 indoor training rooms fully equipped and furnished for most modern training requirements. Both rooms are capable of seating up to 60 people in theatre style seating or 35 in cabaret style.

The Centre also offers an enclosed outdoor space, exclusive for users of the Education Centre, plus private access to the lakeside. The six acres surrounding the Education Centre are suitable for a range of outdoor activities as well as offering an open and 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 screens
  • Speakers for laptops
  • Hearing loop
  • Writing paper and pencils
  • Whiteboards
  • WiFi
  • Back-out facilities

Catering facilities

Light refreshments can be arranged, from tea, coffee and biscuits on arrival to the extensive lunchtime menu or buffet available from the Boardwalk Café at the Natural World Centre.

If you prefer to bring in your own caterers we can work with you to arrange this.

Car parking

Our large car park is capable of holding 150 cars and five coaches, and can host most conference parking requirements with room to spare. Trainers or organisers have the privilege of parking in the free private Education Centre car park directly in front of the building, easing the burden of loading and unloading any resources and equipment you may have.

Delegate parking is pay and display in the main car park with a charge of £2 for all day parking (applicable between 10am and 4pm).

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
  • Bushcraft
  • 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 Centre and Nature Park prior to your day. We can also supply relevant risk assessments and other health and safety information you may require.

Room Hire (per day) £150.00

A selection of teas, coffee, biscuits, orange juice and bottles of water on tables (per person, per day, up to four servings)

£6.00
Buffet lunch surcharge £20.00
Tailor made activity sessions and training days P.O.A

Contact

To check availability, to book or enquire about your visit please contact:

Whisby Education and Community Officers

Whisby Nature Park
Moor Lane
Thorpe-on-the-Hill
Lincoln
LN6 9BW

Tel: 01522 696926
Email: whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk