Flatford Mill Outdoor Residential Centre Colchester Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council (FSC) offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use our stunning locations to teach curriculum focused work and inspire everyone about the environment.

Primary field trips enable you to pick and choose from a range of exciting adventure or curriculum sessions to build your own trip. A visit to an FSC centre will immerse primary school children in the natural world, taking in its sights, sounds and smells.

For secondary and A level groups we offer geography, biology and environmental science courses. Courses can be tailored to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Bring your subject to life in the outdoor classroom!

Visit FSC Flatford Mill for fun residential geography and biology trips at all ages. The centre is the first and original field study centre set up during the 1940’s, set amidst quintessentially English countryside of the Dedham Vale in Suffolk.

Enjoy and learn from staying in our internationally important buildings such as Willy Lotts’ House, (built in the 1500’s and made famous by John Constable’s ‘Haywain’ painting), Valley Farm (a medieval great hall built in the 1450’s) and of course the Mill itself that was owned and renovated by the Constable family in the 1700’s.

FSC courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. You can liase with your tutor to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom.

Teaching staff are passionate and experienced.

FSC take care of everything once you arrive; comfortable accommodation, all your meals (residential visits) plus transport during the course.

Different price bands are offered through the year to offer value for money.

There is an FSC Kids Fund and FSC Bursary Fund available to offer financial support to those who may not otherwise be able to visit.

FSC Flatford Mill is part of FSC, an environmental education charity with 75 years’ experience of providing fieldwork and outdoor learning and a network of UK centres offering day and residential fieldwork opportunities.

FSC works in many other ways to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment including through projects working in local communities and lobbying government to include fieldwork in the curriculum.

• LOtC
• AALA

Students will look at a variety of plants and common animals using age appropriate classification keys to identify living things we find in our woodland and in our pond habitats.

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and problem solving activities.

We can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. KS2 pupils can look at a range of habitats, learning about microhabitats and how they provide the basic needs for living things. Pupils can learn to identify the different structures of plants and name a variety of common animals. We will mini beast hunt and observe them in their microhabitats.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We can offer a range of geography courses from KS2 to A level. KS2 pupils can use maps, stories and games to explore the woods. Discover the plants and animals that live here and design and build dens.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering environmental geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering field studies. For KS4 and A level students we link all of our courses to the exam board requirements for each subject and can tailor the course to your specific needs.

We have a wide range of activities such as:

Primary: minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climbing, bushcraft, orienteering

We can cater for groups of various sizes. Courses have a minimum of 10 students and FSC Flatford Mill has a maximum capacity of 78.

FSC courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom.

We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on the FSC website.

A detailed risk assessment for activities and teaching sites is undertaken which forms the basis of a dynamic approach to assessment by trained staff whilst in the field.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100 or enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org

FSC prices include: course planning; fully risk assessed teaching sites; accommodation; specialist tutors; teaching resources; fieldwork equipment; classrooms and food. The only thing you need to add-on is transport. We even provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Between November and February, courses start at just £10 per primary pupil and £22 per secondary student for day courses.

We are always looking for ways to make FSC trips affordable for all schools. As well as off-peak pricing we work with project funders, and we distribute Grants for Schools to enable access to outdoor learning for everyone.

All field teachers are trained in first aid and group management.

Car Parking: Coach parking is available for free of charge for FSC customers at the nearby National Trust Car Park. Customer cars and minibuses can use the Centre’s car park at the end of the lane.

Children’s Facilities: We are an Educational Centre and have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.

Common Room: We have a Common Room for for schools and adults with table tennis and table football as well sofas, television, DVD player and films, books and board games.

Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities accessible around the centre.

Kitchen: Fully catered services for all dietary needs available, as well as packed lunch making services.

Library: We have an extensive range of reference books with an easy reference database, along with chairs and pcs with internet connection

Linen: All bedding is provided

Outdoor Clothing: You can hire wellingtons, waterproof trousers and jackets

Outdoor Facilities: Extensive range on-site and off-site activities including campfire area, river frontage, woodland, grassland, island, vegetable garden nature garden, games field, picnic benches, wildlife pond

Shop: Our shop sells drinks, snacks and souvenirs of your stay as well as a selection of FSC publications.

WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available through-out the centre.

Workrooms: We have five workrooms of varying size seating 16-30 and all are available for hire

By Train Our nearest train station is Manningtree, about four miles away from the Centre. It is on the main line from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich/Norwich. The journey time from London is approximately one hour. You can also travel to Manningtree station from the north via Peterborough and Ipswich. For school groups, we can arrange free minibus pick up and return to the train station. For our adult learners, several taxis operate out of Manningtree station and can be pre-booked by us to meet you at the station and return you there at the end of your course. If you have any issues booking transport to and from the station, please contact reception who may be able to help.

By Car The Centre is located between Colchester and Ipswich and is about 10 miles from each, approximately 2 miles from the A12. From the crossroads near the ‘Oranges and Lemons’ cafe in East Bergholt, turn down Flatford Lane. It becomes one-way in your favour after 300m. 300m further on, note the direction arrow to the Field Centre on the tourist sign and turn down a narrow steep-sided lane (do not go into or beyond the Flatford public car park). Bear left at the bottom of the hill. The Centre forecourt is then 200m further on, indicated by an FSC logo and sign on a low wall. Our car park is 150m further down the lane. When you arrive, please announce your arrival at Reception. The entrance is by the sign on the far side of the forecourt.

By Bus, Bike Or On Foot The 93 and 93A bus services between Colchester and Ipswich are operated by Ipswich Buses and run through East Bergholt. Ask for the Kings Head / Oranges and Lemons bus stop and then walk down to the Centre using the ‘By Car’ directions above. The Centre can be reached via the St Edmunds Way (which also goes past Manningtree train station) and Stour Valley footpaths. Grid Reference TM 07693322. The Centre is also within a few kilometres of the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 1. If you feel inclined and have the wherewithal / sense of adventure, it has been know, for people to use the River Stour and kayak.

FSC has developed links with First Travel Solutions (FTS), and we recommend them as a coach travel provider to help reduce the cost of transport for academic groups to our Centres. FTS provide a fully supported, UK wide school travel service, providing a dedicated contact for each coach booking from the initial contact through to tracked delivery with 100% security on all deposits paid. If you would like to receive a quote from First Travel Solutions please enquire here.

Capacity: Flatford Mill is made up of four separate accommodation blocks. We have 10 single or twin rooms and a further 15 spacious rooms containing three or more beds, giving a total of 78 beds. There are 19 bedrooms which are either en-suite or have a dedicated suite across the corridor. The remaining six rooms all have their own washbasins and share a new shower and WC suite close by.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100 or enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org