The Hive Residential Centre Essex

One to three night, exclusive use stays in our unique residential facilities for your school, with accommodation for up to 64 pupils and 8 staff, in two sets of 10 heated, wooden camping pods nestled among our wildflower meadow or woodland. The Lodge provides toilets, showers and a large multifunctional room for dining and wet weather activities.  A personalised choice of hands-on, memorable, outdoor activities led by experienced, expert environmental educational officers from our extensive programme of cross-curricular environmental activities. https://thehiveintheforest.co.uk/education

Luggage transfer service to/from Chingford Station (London Overground Liverpool Street to Chingford). The Hive team will meet your group for a guided walk through Epping Forest to our site, thus avoiding the need to book a coach.  Situated in the heart of 2,400 hectares of the ancient woodland of Epping Forest our private 7-acre site includes four large, fully equipped classrooms, outdoor classroom overlooking accessible terraced gardens. Bushcraft area and firepits, team games area, wi-fi across the site, woodland, meadows and ponds (one raised for easy access). Picnic area, animals suitable for handling including reptiles, amphibians, mammals and invertebrates.

A residential experience with us is all-inclusive, promising healthy eating and variety by offering a wide selection of local sourced home cooked food using seasonal fruit and vegetables.  A visit to The Hive in the forest will equip learners with age-appropriate knowledge and experiences to educate about the climate and ecological crisis and inspire them to make choices to value and protect the planet.

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Up to 64 students, accompanied by up to 8 staff.

Risk assessments are in place and are available: https://thehiveintheforest.co.uk/activitiesriskassessment

Teachers can arrange a site visit before bringing their students.

Health and Safety Policy & Safeguarding Policy: https://thehiveintheforest.co.uk/guidance-on-site

The flat rate charge for tuition for our exclusive use three day residential for a maximum of 64 students and up to 8 staff is;

April—October (inclusive) £6417 plus VAT or November—March (inclusive) £5902 plus VAT plus £31 per pupil catering charge.

The flat rate charge for tuition for our exclusive use three day residential for a maximum of 32 students and up to 4 staff is;

April—October (inclusive) £3275 plus VAT or November—March (inclusive) £3018 plus VAT, plus £31 per pupil catering charge.

We also offer a luggage pick-up service from Chingford Station (London Overground from Liverpool Street), with The Hive staff meeting your group for a guided walk through Epping Forest to our site, thus avoiding the need to book a coach.

All Hive staff are trained in first aid. (Supervision is the responsibility of the school)

However Hive staff are on call throughout the residential. (7.00pm – 8.30am off site contact)

First Aid Station on site.

• 24 hour access to The Lodge with a large, multifunctional dining and entertainment area with a large screen, two sets of shower rooms each with 3 showers and toilets
• 24 hours access to facilities for making hot drinks
• 4 large, fully equipped classrooms
• 1 large outdoor classroom
• Free WiFi across the site
• Picnic areas through the 7 acre site
• 2 large fire pits with seating
• Low ropes area
• Large field for games, with games equipment provided

• Grounds are fully accessible, including the outdoor classroom, gardens and ponds
• Fully accessible shower and toilet facilities in The Lodge
• Two camping pods accessible by wheelchair ramp
• Main building; accessible toilets and classrooms on the ground floor
• All terrain wheelchair available to access the forest

Open all year round subject to availability.

‘Congratulations to the staff and the London Borough of Waltham Forest on fifty years of inspiring children with a love of nature and a respect for the natural world.

Best wishes David Attenborough’

‘Perfect environment; practical, interactive, relevant and engaging’. Key Stage 3 Teacher

‘It was an excellent experience, and the girls got a lot out of it’ Head of Biology

‘Practical hands-on activity with children taking responsibility. A great day, safe, enjoyable learning!’ Key stage 2 Teacher

‘You do everything so well; engaging the children and giving them the courage to have a go and just enjoy’. EYFS Teacher

‘Love the hands-on practical elements. All children were engaging in depth tuition on the subject area’ Key Stage 2 Teacher

‘The tutor was clear, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Activities were fun, engaging, interesting and the children learnt such a lot’.

‘I think the opportunity for children to come and actually learn about sustainability and take it home to their parents is amazing’ Ms. Lampard, Head of Chingford C of E primary school

‘Game changing hands-on experience’ Selwyn Primary School Year 5 teacher 

‘Outdoor activities. Very knowledgeable tutor. The tutor created a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation for pupils. Quality of tuition was exceptional.’  Year 7 teacher from Frederick Bremmer Secondary School 

‘Absolutely great, children seemed to really enjoy the experience. All children were given attention and the opportunity to explore. Care was given to SEN children.’ EYFS Teacher from Millbrook Park Primary School

“Very friendly staff – firm but caring, very accommodating to children’s and staff’s needs. Thank you!”

“All really happy activities were brilliant, facilities excellent. Staff positive, encouraging and hands on. Lost count of pupils saying ‘best trip ever’“

“Clean, tidy site, well kept. Great leaders. Children kept interested with good place and children listened to Great use of environment esp. geography field work. Excellent tuition great facilities and brilliant leader“

“Overall, an excellent residential! Clean, enriching and nice staff. Would Recommnend! Really enjoyed the residential – a good balance of free time and structured activities. Kids loved the pods.”

“Good range of science and geography objectives, personal development objective of reslience etc achieved. Can’t wait to bring our pupils next year!”

“Staff were excellent. Had a wonderful rapport with the pupils with clear expectations and guidance.“

At The Hive (formerly Suntrap Forest Centre) our environmental education offer aligns with the National Curriculum and supports classroom-based learning through practical real-word experiences. The broad learning objectives ensure all sessions explore the links between nature, science and the climate emergency.  This hands-on approach is wide ranging and includes topics such as energy transfers, solar panel technology, pollution, effects of water absorption on flood risks and the carbon cycle.

We run eco-themed days linking subjects such as science, geography, STEM and PSHE to expand student’s understanding of climate change and how we can make choices to combat global warming: https://thehiveintheforest.co.uk/education

The Hive in the forest is located on the edge of East London visiting Epping Forest in all the different seasons is always an enjoyable experience. Particularly as Epping Forest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special  Area of Conservation with a rich variety of habitats including woodland, grassland, heath, rivers, bogs and ponds.

Easy accessible distance from M11, M25 and Central and Liverpool Street train lines.

Accommodation for up to 64 pupils and 8 staff, in two sets of 10 heated, wooden camping pods nestled among our wildflower meadow. The Lodge provides toilets, showers and a large multifunctional room for dining and wet weather activities.

Each of our unique wooden, heated camping pods sleeps up to 4 students on fold out mattresses or two staff on camp beds. Each pod has electric lighting and a lockable door.

We have two sets of 10 pods each set in a circle a fire pit, providing a back to nature experience all year round.

Each set of pods has its own composting toilet for easy access at night, while a short walk across the meadow The Lodge provides, showers, toilets and dining and entertainment facilities.

Contact us at: TheHive@walthamforest.gov.uk