School visits

Royal Victoria Country Park is the perfect place to bring learning to life. This unique site right on the coast overlooking Southampton Water offers something for everyone with wonderful wildlife, rich heritage and a great range of park facilities.

There are extensive areas of shingle shoreline, parkland and mature woodland as well as wildflower areas and a community orchard which together provide a valuable outdoor learning resource for schools and other groups. In addition, we have Acorns Education Facility that can be hired out to groups for indoor learning.

The site also has plenty of historical interest with the remains of a huge Victorian hospital on site which was home to Britain’s first purpose built military hospital of the day, opened in 1863 and demolished in 1966. The iconic chapel building now houses the site’s Heritage Visitor Centre with reception area, shop and exhibition area.

Educational activities

We offer a range of exciting environmental activities for Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 pupils during term time and activities for community groups which are led by the rangers of Royal Victoria Country Park or self led. Group leaders and helpers are encouraged to become involved in all the activities. Please ensure you adhere to your governing bodies guidelines with regards to offsite activities and have informed the relevant people that you will be visiting the park.

Heritage and Community Engagement Officer led activities

We run Heritage and Community Engagement Officer led activities upon request and subject to availability. Sessions last for roughly 2 hours. These activities can be adapted to suit your school or group’s needs and relate to the National Curriculum. Help with planning your visit is also available from our Education Officer who will create a programme of activities for you as part of your essential pre visit to the site.

At present, we offer three standard packages:

• Seashore Adventures
  Includes a 2 hour led session and ideas for self led sessions in the afternoon
• Adaptation Exploration
  Includes a 2 hour Education Officer led session and ideas for self led sessions and
• Living History
  A day of Heritage and Community Engagement Officer led and self led sessions in the Victorian Chapel and in the park. Our Heritage and Community Engagement Officer will provide all instructions and resources for the activities. If none of the activities fit in with your topic of study please let us know and we may be able to offer other suitable activities.

We also offer:

• Orienteering Trails
• Meet the ranger

Education Officer led activities

We run Education Officer led activities upon request and subject to availability. Sessions last for roughly 2 hours. These activities can be adapted to suit your school or group’s needs and relate to the National Curriculum. Help with planning your visit is also available from our Education Officer who will create a programme of activities for you as part of your essential pre visit to the site.

Self led activities

Some of our activities are self led. These activities can be adapted to suit your school or group’s needs and relate to the National Curriculum. Sessions vary in length from 1-2 hours. These self led activities are carried out by the school or group and the school or group remains responsible for ensuring high standards of health and safety at all times during these sessions. We encourage schools and groups to run their own self guided activities alongside our Education Officer led activities.

The Heritage and Community Engagement Officer will meet with you when you arrive upon site to provide a basic health and safety talk before you begin your activities. Help with planning your visit is also available from our Heritage and Community Engagement Officer.

Suitability of activities

All schools and children’s clubs are welcome to take part in our education activities. The recommended age group for each activity is given but some activities can be adapted to suit other ages. Please contact the Heritage and Community Engagement Officer if you would like to discuss the suitability of any of the activities for children with different needs.

Pre visits

A pre visit for all group leaders is essential for both Education Officer and self led activities in order to secure your booking. During the pre visit, our Education Officer will help you with the planning of your visit.

Prices

Seashore Adventures, History Detectives and Adaptation Exploration are charged at £3.50 per child and includes all information and equipment needed.

If you are using the education facility there is free car parking at the site for coaches or minibuses, if you are not using the education facility, then standard pay and display charges apply or coaches cost £10 and permits must be arranged with the park office at time of booking.

For activities requiring the use of equipment, the group leader will be responsible for looking after this equipment and a tick-sheet of equipment you are using will be provided by the Park in your pre-visit. All equipment together with the tick-sheet signed by the group leader must be returned before you leave the site after your event in the correct quantities specified on the sheet and in an undamaged state. Schools/groups will be liable for any missing or damaged equipment and will be invoiced by the Park accordingly. Prices are reviewed each year as part of our pricing policy.

Contact

• Michele Meek
  Heritage and Community Engagement Officer
• Royal Victoria Country Park, Park Centre, Netley Abbey, Southampton SO31 5GA
• Tel 023 8045 5157