The Sustainability Activity Centre Hampshire

Located in The South Downs National Park, The Sustainability Centre is set in 55 acres of woodland and grassland above the village of East Meon. We are an eco-learning Centre and Educational Charity and it has been a pleasure welcoming schools to the site for over 20 years. We are a multipurpose centre, so whilst some areas of the site are dedicated to conservation, others are part of the daily working use including a cafe, classrooms, camping and lodge accommodation. The Centre offers a range of hands-on and engaging environmental activities that promote sustainable living and green issues in an inspiring yet tranquil setting. We work closely with schools to provide bespoke programmes that suit the needs of the class in terms of group size, age, interests and accessibility, ensuring a memorable and valuable visit.

Our speciality is our depth of activities, to enhance and inform your eco-topic, helping to bring the subject to life. Learners can take a tour of our site exploring the themes of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ through many of our buildings and projects, experience first-hand a biodiverse mosaic of habitats with mini-beast hunting and pond dipping, develop their teamwork skills when building an earth oven and earth bag arch, become attuned to the woodland through our nature art connection activities like chalk carving and cultivate their own self-confidence and health and well-being learning bush craft skills. There is a whole host of other options detailed on our website including Local Food and Farming (includes a farm tour on a tractor trailer), Saxons in the Meon Valley, Energy for Everyone and Life through the Stone Age. So if you are looking for a visit to enliven a classroom project we can help to arrange a thought provoking trip that will provide lasting memories for the children.

Key Stage 1

​Key Stage 2

​Key Stage 3

We have over 20 years of experience providing engaging and inspiring activities to schools with excellent hands-on and eco-focused learning. We are located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in The South Downs National Park and on a residential there are opportunities for camping and staying in our eco-lodge. Curriculum linked activities support learning about sustainable living and green issues and is a trip of value for a wide variety of group sizes, ages and length of stay. This is a fantastic opportunity for children and young people of all ages to immerse themselves in their sustainability journey, even if it’s just for a day or for a whole week.

We have LOtC Route 2 Quality Badge for our Educational Residential and Day service.

On a typical day visit learners will undertake a variety of fun eco-focused activities led by our knowledgeable and experienced staff. Pupils will have an engaging outdoor hands-on experience, however indoor spaces will be available for teaching in poor weather. Arrival is usually 10am and departure 2:30pm.

Examples of Topic options include:

• Local Food & Farming – including a tractor trailer tour
• Caring for the Environment – looking at habitats and water conservation
• Saxons in the Meon Valley
• Forest Skills – learning traditional bush crafts
• Botany & Plant Life
• Sustainable Building Techniques – making an earth oven and earth bag arch

We tailor each visit to suit the individual needs of the class and work with you to create a bespoke itinerary.

Due to our bespoke element we only take one class at a time (or max of 35 pupils) for a day visit. The class may be split into groups for certain activities during the day, the itinerary will provide teachers with information about the groups and timings.

When you book with the Education team you will be able to discuss your topics, talk about a programme from the activities offered to suit your learners and make a free pre-visit to the site.

You will be provided with risk assessments from the Centre on request and pre-visit information sheets.

Information about the activities, curriculum links, suggested resources and follow-up school activities can be found on our website: https://www.sustainability-centre.org/day-trips.html.

You are welcome to use photos, video and audio equipment to record your trip.

We have been awarded the Lotc Quality Badge for our Schools Provision.

Teachers will be provided with relevant written risk assessments on request which are designed to help with the schools own risk assessment for the trip. A pre-visit to the Centre is highly recommended for day visits as it also helps teachers to appreciate the nature of the site and its suitability for their learners.

Acting Education Manager: Kati Heath

E-mail: kati@sustainability-centre.org

Website: http://www.sustainability-centre.org/

Tel: 01730 823166

We recommend that teachers make an enquiry through our education email education@sustainaility-centre.org or our contact form https://www.sustainability-centre.org/contact-the-education-team.html.

A standard guided day visit from 10am – 2:30pm costs £9 per pupil, price increase to £11 per pupil from September 2023.

Any accompanying adults are free for day visits.

The Centre is up on top of the South Downs and we advise flexible clothing for wet and dry, hot and cold as the weather is changeable. We recommend sturdy shoes like walking boots or wellies, a waterproof coat and layers that can be added or removed. A guidance sheet can be sent out with your booking.

All of our Education leaders are First Aid trained and carry around a first aid kit, however we still expect a qualified First Aid member of staff to come with the school to carry pupil specific medications.

The Centre provides indoor and outdoor areas for eating packed lunches. There is a small shop where recycled pencils, small gifts and postcards can be purchased, a visit to the shop needs to be booked in advance.

The Centre has facilities for disabled visitors but it is recommended that leaders discuss their needs with the Education Co-ordinator and Accommodation Staff at the pre-visit stage.

We are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. All visits and pre-visits need to be booked in advance with our staff. Months Open: February to December. Closed in January.

“I just want to thank you and the team for three excellent school visits. Each class had a fantastic time and we were blown away by your team’s knowledge, passion and patience. Our children had a wonderful time exploring the artefacts and loved making the willow weaving and clay remains. You have a great set up and adapted well to the current climate,” Sarisbury School.

“Gave the Children an invaluable insight into Saxon Life,” Covington Park Primary School.

“Great for pupils to get hands on experience of building techniques and also see and explore different energy sources. Great as ever thank you,” Springfield Secondary School.

“We were able to carry out several ecological surveying techniques and to gain valuable insights into farming,” South Downs College.

The Centre carries a special message for all guests, which is to learn something about earth care during the visit. This may be anything from looking after the campsite where your tent is pitched to visiting the compost toilet or recycling your lunch box waste back at school. This is a working site and this is one of the special features that visitors appreciate. By acting in a more sustainable way we can develop a world that future generations will thank us for.