The Pines Garden Coastal Forest School And Museum Dover
Visit Website
Email us
The Pines Garden Beach Road, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, CT15 6DZ
MONTHS OPEN
DAYS OPEN
AGE GROUPS SERVED
Listed under: Forest School | Biology | Wildlife and Nature Reserves | Team Building | Storytelling | Special Educational Needs (SEN) | Picnic Areas | Parks and Gardens | Outdoor Education | Museums | Historical Heritage | Ecology & Green Awareness | Field Studies | Environment Centres | Bushcraft | Day Trip Destinations | Science | PSHE | Mathematics | Leisure and Tourism | History | Geography | Environmental Studies | Engineering | English | Drama / Performing Arts | Design and Technology | Citizenship | Business Studies | Art and Design
What we offer on a school trip
Examples of sessions
- South Foreland and Steps Bank: https://youtu.be/sI0AXQTpdlI
- Rock Pooling on the Kent Coast : https://youtu.be/Yn6KywBF398
- Pond Dipping at Rippledown: https://youtu.be/EJpsPQFf0J4
- Delivering High Quality Outdoor Learning on the East Kent Coast.
- Set in a SSSi and area of outstanding natural beauty.
- Curriculum plans from KS1 to KS5 that can be tailored to your students needs.
- Support and experience in working with SEN and NEETS.
- A dedicated outdoor classroom for outdoor learning called Steps Bank.
- Composting toilet or Tree Bogprovides eco-friendly conveniences*
Activities include:
Nature Awareness, Team Building and Woodland Skills
The site provides the perfect safe, secure, sensible and sociable' environment for young people to learn, live together and experience nature at first hand. These are just some of the highlights the centre has to offer.
British Mammals
Discover wild animals living right beside us. Create your own mini-habitat in our humane traps and wait to see what you will find!
Mini-Beast Safari
Beneath the logs and leaves, explore the wondrous variety of creepy crawlies! From the leopard slug to the millipedes and centipedes - it's a magical mini-world!
Shelter Building
Need to shelter from sun or rain? Using different materials such as rope, canvas and wood - design and build your own den outdoors.
Map and Compass
Orienteering activity around our beautiful grounds. Solve the riddles to find the treasure!
Garden to Plate
Take a journey from the veg patch to the kitchen and onto the plate. Pizzas cooked in our outdoor ovens are particularly popular!
Environmental Art
Spending a week in nature is extremely inspiring and enlivens all the senses. Nurture your creative spirit to create works of art using an array of natural materials.
Sustainability Trail
Visit the food growing, composting and minibeast areas and explore the Sense-ability Garden?.
Renewable Energy and Eco Building
Learn what makes the Pines Calyx an outstanding example of green building design, construction and renewable energy.
Rock Pooling
Safely explore the rock pools whilst the tide is out and identify the flora and fauna you find.
We have pledged our support to the #BrilliantResidentials campaign and are committed to delivering High Quality Outdoor Learning: http://learningaway.org.uk/news/2015/high-quality-outdoor-learning-guide-rewritten/
The Bay Trust is working in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. Dr Joe Hinds, a Social-Environmental Psychologist at CCCU is gathering data and helping our Outdoor Learning Tutor, Dr Sarah O?Malley assess the effectiveness of our outdoor learning programmes.
Children gain a greater sense of their own competence, nature connection, hope and dietary awareness.
While many publications are about children, this study involves children. It prioritises the voices of learners. This study is small and adds to the ongoing debate on the value of outdoor learning and play in child development.
Their report is available to download here: http://baytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rippledown-Executive-Summary.pdf
Inspired by this research we are creating a series of short films with young learners to document their residential learning experiences. Schools are invited to take part in this exciting project and can benefit from the additional benefits of adding digital film making to their curriculum programme!
01394 851 737 ext 2014
What makes us a great choice for education?
Set in the picturesque chalk coastline this SSSi (Site of Special Scientific Interest) area is perfect for groups who want to explore biodiversity, seashore habitats, the natural world and benefit from a forest school curriculum.
Our tutors can deliver a lot more than just nature awareness. We have programs we can tailor to the arts, history and english language. The area itself has been of great historical importance since Roman times and is the best place to explore the UK coastal defences from WW1 and WW2.
Our Forest School area at Steps Bank was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in association with the Up on the Downs project. The Pines Garden has been Organically managed since 2008. It is now a designated permaculture LAND centre.
Accreditation and Awards
Currently applying for Level 1 LOtC award. Our other residential campus four miles down the road at Rippledown House has Level 2 LOtC. The Pines Garden uses the same tutors as Rippledown House.
What is typically included on our school trips?
Our Lead Outdoor Tutor can come to your school to do a presentation for pupils and parents. They can spend time with your teachers to tailor your entire visit to your curriculum needs.
Group Sizes Catered For
10 - 30 pupils plus support staff. Depending on the size of your group you we recommend 1 - 2 tutors and activities on rotation.
We have excellent on site catering and a campfire area in which we can serve tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Alternative dietary requirements are always catered for. Please confirm any allergens or dietary requirements prior to your visit.
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
KS1 - KS5
Sample lesson plans are currently available on request.
Please email our Lead Outdoor Tutor - Sian Lloyd at sian@baytrust.org.uk for further details.
Depending on the activity, we also have worksheets available that can also be tailored to your curriculum requirements.
Please email our Educational Advisor - Sian Lloyd sian@baytrust.org.uk for further details.
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions
Schools are welcome to bring their own photo/video equipment. Please ensure your release forms are signed by parents. We have a safeguarding policy covering photography and video and this can be supplied on request.
As part of our ongoing research into outdoor learning we can work with your school free of charge to make short films about your stay at Rippledown. Sample films can be seen on our Vimeo Account: https://vimeo.com/thebaytrust We have a waterproof Go-Pro Camera and a Digital Assistant on hand to help you make and edit your films on site. It would be helpful if we could also use your films in our marketing. If your school would like to take part we?d be grateful if you would get our release forms signed by parents so we can feature your school on our website and social media channels.
Risk Assessment Details
Comprehensive risk assessments are provided for all set activities. If you require bespoke risk assessments or additional advice we have an expert on site to help you.
Education Officer Information
Our Lead Outdoor Tutor is Sian Lloyd. Sian is a former Deputy Head Teacher at a local Primary School and still teaches at local schools. She is fully up-to-date with the curriculum. Please email sian@baytrust.org.uk with your question and arrange a convenient time to schedule a call.
Pricing Information
For groups of 16+
For the best learning experience and optimum safety we recommend having 2 dedicated tutors for Sea Shore, Forest School and Garden Activities @ £400 per day*
Groups under 16 can use 1 tutor @ £200 per day.
*You are welcome to opt for just one outdoor tutor but you will need to ensure you have a ratio of 1 to 8 and you may not be able to do some forest school activities.
The Evening Ramble and Campfire @ £100
Takes place from 5pm to 9pm. Experience the magic on the coast in the evening - its when you will see it at its best!
Catering
Lunch £6 per head
BBQ Dinner £7 per head
Teachers or Support staff go FREE
Up to 3 Teachers or Support staff go FREE
If you require additional funding we can help you identify possible co-funding grants and assist you in the application.
Clothing Requirements
Sensible outdoor clothing is required!
- Waterproof clothing
- Welly boots
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
Available Facilities
- Woodland Area
- Campfire Area
- Storytelling shelter
- Food Growing Area
- WW2 Museum
- Eco Building - A visit to or use of The Pines Calyx can be made by prior arrangement only. Prices and activities can be provided on request.
- Two public toilets (one disabled) with wash basins in the Pines Garden.
- Two public toilets (one disabled) in the Pines Garden Tea Room.
- Pines Garden Tea Room open seven days a week.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
Disabled access in parts of the Pines Garden and complete access in the Tea Room and Museum. Steps Bank Forest School Area is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Opening Hours & Information
Seven days a week
October - March from 10 am – 4 pm.
April - September from 10 am- 5 pm.
Evening ramble and campfire 5 pm – 9 pm.
Testimonials
'First of all we had to discover a wild area and then explore it and tried to conserve it. We made paths with logs and then swept up the leaves. We built paths because if we don't have paths we would trample on the animals. The best thing about it was exploring nature and working as a team. I felt really lucky and exhilarated when I received my certificates.' - Jessica Woodhouse, Year 5, Greenpark Community Primary School.
'Through Bridging the Gap, I got to know children in my year group much better, which meant I made some great friends. Every week, eight children (including me), were lucky enough to avoid school. Instead, we went outside to have some great fun - even in the snow! We built dens, swung in hammocks, climbed trees, built snowmen, navigated minefields (don?t worry, these were only made of logs!), walked to the top of cliffs, cleared paths, looked for wildlife, made bird feeders, created reindeers from wood, toasted marshmallows, started fires, used tools, had a picnic on the beach, skimmed stones and even conquered some of our fears. It was an exhilarating experience!
Cheers Terry and thank you Pete for spending your time with us. I will never forget it.' - Finley Gilmurray, Year 5, Greenpark Community Primary School.
Other Information
The Bay Trust is working in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. Dr Joe Hinds, a Social-Environmental Psychologist at CCCU has gathered data and helped our former Outdoor Learning Tutor, Dr. Sarah O’Malley assess the effectiveness of our outdoor learning programmes.
Children gain a greater sense of their own competence, nature connection, hope and dietary awareness.
While many publications are about children, this study involved children. It prioritised the voices of learners. This study is small and adds to the ongoing debate on the value of outdoor learning and play in child development.
Their report is available to download here: http://baytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rippledown-Executive-Summary.pdf
Inspired by this research we are creating a series of short films with young learners to document their residential learning experiences. Schools are invited to take part in this exciting project and can benefit from the additional benefits of adding digital film making to their curriculum programme!
