RSPB Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve East Yorkshire

Bempton Cliffs, on the spectacular Yorkshire coast, is home to one of the UK’s top wildlife spectacles. Between April and August each year, almost half a million seabirds come to Bempton Cliffs and make the cliffs come alive. There are adults bringing food to their nests and young chicks making their first faltering flights, creating a unique and very special experience for your pupils.

Bempton provides the perfect setting for exploring a coastal habitat. The seabirds provide an up-close experience that can be used to explore topics such as habitats, food chains and adaptation.

In winter, the reserve is a hot spot for migrants such as redwings and goldcrests and rarities can drop in unannounced. Short-eared and barn owls can often be seen hunting across the nearby fields. Our chirpy tree sparrow colony is a cheery spectacle all year round.

Our sessions are linked to the curriculum and take place in our wonderful haven for nature.

RSPB Bempton is the perfect setting to explore a coastal habitat and to fully experience the sounds, smells and sights of this unique habitat. Between April and August each year, almost a quarter of a million seabirds including puffins and gannets arrive in Bempton to bring the cliffs alive. There are adults bringing food to their nest and young chicks making their first faltering flights, creating a unique and special experience for your pupils.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs has been awarded the nationally recognized Council for Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, ensuring that we provide high quality learning experiences and manage safety effectively too.

We offer curriculum-based science and geography sessions from foundation phase through to KS3. Explore our fantastic coastline for ecology/erosion, bird identification, food chains and habitats, and work together to discover lots of new things about the Bempton Cliffs nature reserve and the wildlife that calls it home.

Each session is designed to last two hours; sessions run from 10am – 12pm, and then 1pm – 3pm. Two sessions can be combined to make a whole day visit.

Full details of our sessions can be found on our website: Click here

Our sessions are aimed at groups of 30 children. If your group is larger or you have more than one group, then please contact us for more information.

We use our RSPB age appropriate resources and equipment to support our curriculum linked sessions. See the session outlines on our website.

We also have a wealth of teacher resources and ideas to continue your learning journey with us. You will find more information on our website.

Schools are welcome to take photographs of their own children.

A generic risk assessment is available on the website.

Please contact our Learning Officer using the email above.

Full details of pricing can be found on our website.

Although we have a classroom, our sessions are held outdoors so we recommend students are dressed appropriately for the weather. This may be waterproof boots and raincoats, or it may be sunhats and sunblock cream.

RSPB Learning staff are first aid trained to Appointed Persons status and will carry a basic first aid kit.

We suggest children bring a packed lunch with them, including water bottles. We provide a location to store bags and lunchboxes and a place for the children to eat – outdoor space in good weather but we also have an indoor space if the weather is bad. Don’t worry if anyone forgets to bring a packed lunch as we have a café on site stocked with sandwiches, cakes, snacks, hot and cold drinks.

There are toilets on site and a shop of anyone would like to bring some pocket money.

Accessible toilets are located on site and we have 3 viewing platforms that are accessible. We would like to make your visit as inclusive as possible and provide the best experience for all children please make us aware of any SEND the time of booking so we can discuss any necessary arrangements or adaptations to our sessions.

Three viewpoints nearest the visitor centre are fully wheelchair accessible and have bays to give improved viewing to wheelchair users.

Summary of our accessibility statement can be found here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-we-do/education-and-inspiring-the-next-generation#school-visits

Schools sessions are offered on weekdays during term time

Nature reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.

Car park: open daily, dawn-dusk.

Visitor Centre: open daily, 9.30am-5pm (November-February 9.30am-4pm).

Shop: open daily, 9.30am-5pm (November-February 9.30am-4pm).

Café: open daily, 10am-4pm.

Toilets: open daily, 9.30am-5pm (November-February 9.30am-4pm).

“Mesmerizing, breathtaking, amazing and awesome’ are just some of the ways local schools have described their visit to Bempton Cliffs.

Outstanding introduction to my new topic – the children were immersed in their learning, and I will be able to draw on their experiences for a series of lessons.”

“Amazing as always, well trained staff, excellent facilities and fabulous setting with educational activities.”