Westonbirt National Arboretum Gloucestershire

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, is an internationally important tree collection and picturesque Grade 1 landscape, that is managed by Forestry England. It is a great place for students of all ages to come to experience the outdoor environment, and learn through exploration, inquiry, investigation and natural play.

You can choose between:

• Led programmes, curriculum linked
• Self-guided activities
• Explorer backpacks for hire

Booking is essential for all visits.

We recommend you try to book led programmes at least 2 months in advance to secure your preferred date and avoid disappointment.

Westonbirt National Arboretum South West
Green awareness South West
Parks and gardens South West
Outdoor education South West

Westonbirt’s world class tree collection, seasonal rhythms and inspiring landscape provides a unique opportunity for children to learn about trees, the environment and themselves.

We care for over 2,500 species of tree from around the world, planted in an artistic picturesque style to create interest throughout the changing seasons. We are known worldwide for our spectacular autumn colour, and the spring rhododendron, azalea and magnolia displays.

It is a great place to explore:

• global issues of sustainable woodland management, climate change, biosecurity, plant pests and diseases and conservation
• plant science topics such as plant biodiversity, growth, and adaptation, woodland habitat, food webs and ecosystems, pollination, and plant evolution
• natural art, photography, and tourism.

Our landscape, rides, glades, woodland and other natural features are great for orienteering, storytelling, observing nature, natural play, den building and creating young adventurers and scientists!

Most sessions last 1.5 hours and are linked to the National Curriculum. Wherever possible we will be happy to adapt and tailor a programme to suit your educational needs. Sessions are generally timetabled to fit within the usual 10:00 arrival and 14:00 departure times of most schools but other arrangements can be made:

Morning sessions run from: 10:15 – 11:45

Afternoon sessions run from: 12:15 – 13:45

EYFS and KS1 – Programmes are led our learning partner Learning With Nature http://www.learning-with-nature.org/

KS2, KS3, A level, FE and HE – Programmes are led by Forestry England

KS2

• Plant science – growth, adaptation, pollination, seasonal change, evolution and inheritance
• Habitats – food chains, food webs, adaptation
• Human impact on the environment – sustainability, conservation, climate change
• Natural art and sculpture

KS3

• Plant science – photosynthesis, adaptation, climate change
• Woodland planning for sustainability
• Tourism
• Woodland ecology

KS4 / A level

• Plant science and adaptation
• Sustainable forest management and visitor impact

Landscape Design

• Westonbirt as a natural visitor attraction

FE/HE

• Conservation in botanic gardens
• Forest management including species choice and resilience
• Trees, forests and climate change
• Biosecurity, pests and diseases

Primary – we can work four classes of up to 35 students, a maximum of 140 students a day.

Secondary – either 4 classes (up to 140 students) following a 1.5 hour programme or 6 classes (up to 210 students) following a 1-hour programme.

NB: These numbers are dependent on Covid-19 school visit guidance and protocols

Self-guided groups

Larger group sizes are feasible for self-guided visits, up to a maximum of 240 students.

We have a range of free downloadable activity sheets to support the self-guided parts of your visit. There are also a range of explorer backpacks to hire (£15 per backpack), each with enough resource for 35 students. Different packs are available for KS1, KS2 or KS3

Backpacks

Seasonal explorers – resources to explore the seasonal woodland through discovery, identification, stories and creative play

Who lives at Westonbirt? – become a nature detective and identify homes, tracks, signs and droppings

Woodland Mini – beasts Explorers – bug pots, magnifiers, ID sheets and activity ideas.

Sensory exploration – resources to explore the arboretum through touch, sight, scent and sound for Foundation groups

Downloadable packs and other activities:

• Growing Green – 26 science, numeracy, literacy and sensory activities that help you to discover more about trees
• Art scavenger hunt and activity pack for KS1 and KS2
• Creativitree Arts pack for KS3 and KS4
• Plant Hunter Orienteering
• Gruffalo Orienteering
• Seasonal play booklets
• Woodland play booklets – build, create, imagine, explore
• Westonbirt play trail

Schools are free to photograph, film and make audio recordings but filming that features other visitors may require permission.

We have risk assessments for visiting the site and for individual programmes, including Covid-19 controls.  These are provided on booking.

Please email: learning.westonbirt@forestryengland.uk or call: 0300 067 4856 for all learning visit enquiries

Led programmes: £5 per child with a minimum charge of £125 per session

Self-guided visits: £3 per child 5-18, under 5s free

Different ratio of free supervising adults depending on year group, all 1:1 SEND support adults free

Bursaries.

Please enquire when making a provisional booking:

• If your school serves a deprived community you may be eligible for a coach bursary of £100
• If you are a SEND school wanting a led programme we have programme bursaries of £100

Our programmes take place outdoors in all weathers. Please be prepared for this and ensure all students are suitably dressed depending on the season and weather.

We have a first aid point on site located next to the main toilet facilities. However, we do ask that you bring a first aid kit with you and ensure you have a member of staff trained to administer basic first aid as you will be spending most of your visit away from the main facilities.

Led visits – access to the learning centre rooms and undercover space for bag storage and lunch

Self-guided visits – picnic tables and the large open downs are available for lunch, and whilst there is a cafe and restaurant on site, they are not able to take school lunch bookings.

Information point

The Welcome Building is the main information point on site. Pick up your site maps, play trail maps, and backpacks from here.

Westonbirt Shop – groups of up to 10 children at a time in the shop please.

All hard paths, Treetop Walkway, shop, restaurant, information point and bird viewing area are accessible for wheelchairs, electric scooters and buggies. Trails off the paths are accessible depending on weather conditions but can be unsuitable in wet conditions due to mud.

There are two disabled toilet facilities on site, based at the Welcome Building and central facilities area. The central facilities include a bed and hoist.

Programme activities, resources and routes are adapted to cater for a range of needs.

We are open every day except Christmas Day, 09:00 – 17:00