School Visits and Practical Information

Everything school staff need to know about High Weald Connections and Active by Nature

Project Rewild is offering two free opportunities to help local children spend more time outside, become more active and develop a stronger connection with nature.

This page provides practical information for schools interested in taking part.

Schools can choose either opportunity or take part in both.

At a glance

High Weald Connections

  • What: A curriculum-linked outdoor learning day exploring the High Weald landscape

  • Who: Key Stage 2 groups

  • Group size: Up to 30 children

  • Where: Hoads Wood and Mountain Hill, near Fairlight

  • When: Recommended time of 10am–2pm, with some flexibility available

  • Cost: All activities, equipment and delivery costs are fully funded

  • Transport: Schools arrange and fund their own transport

Active by Nature

  • What: Assemblies, workshops and activity days encouraging children to spend more time outside and become more active

  • Who: Children and young people aged 7–16

  • Group size: Small groups, individual classes or whole year groups

  • Where: Delivered at your school

  • When: Flexible sessions lasting from one hour to a whole school day

  • Cost: Fully funded, with no charge to the school

High Weald Connections

What does the visit involve?

High Weald Connections gives children the opportunity to spend a day exploring, understanding and caring for their local High Weald landscape.

Each visit is built around the question:

What makes the High Weald special, and what can we do to help look after it?

Children will explore ancient woodland, meadows and other habitats through a mixture of curriculum-linked learning, practical activities, environmental games and direct experience of the landscape.

Activities will vary according to the season, weather and conservation needs of the site. They may include:

  • Woodland and meadow exploration

  • Wildlife and species identification

  • Habitat investigations

  • Environmental games and challenges

  • Bushcraft and traditional woodland skills

  • Nature crafts and green woodworking

  • Practical conservation

  • Teamwork and problem-solving

  • Time for child-led exploration

Project Rewild will discuss the programme with your school beforehand and adapt the day to the age, needs and interests of your group.

When do visits take place?

Our recommended visit time is:

10am–2pm

We recognise that school timetables and transport arrangements vary, so some flexibility may be possible. Please discuss your requirements with us when booking.

How many children can attend?

We can welcome groups of up to:

30 children

Schools must provide an appropriate number of accompanying staff in line with their usual policies, pupil needs and staffing ratios.

Where does the visit take place?

Visits take place at:

Hoads Wood and Mountain Hill
Battery Hill
Fairlight
Hastings
TN35 4AL

Detailed directions and arrival information will be provided before your visit.

Transport and parking

Schools are responsible for arranging and funding transport to and from the site.

We have parking space for:

  • Cars

  • Minibuses

  • Coaches (drop off)

Please let us know how your group will be travelling so we can plan for your arrival.

What facilities are available?

The site has a new wooden compost toilet for visiting groups.

Hoads Wood and Mountain Hill is a natural outdoor site rather than a conventional visitor centre. We will provide further information about the site, facilities and the planned activities before your visit.

What should children bring?

Children should arrive prepared to spend the day outside. We recommend:

  • Weather-appropriate clothing

  • Waterproof coat and trousers when rain is expected

  • Sturdy, comfortable footwear

  • Warm layers during colder weather

  • Sun hat and sun protection during warmer weather

  • A packed lunch

  • A filled water bottle

Please avoid open-toed shoes and clothing that children or families would be concerned about getting muddy.

Weather

Visits are designed to take place outdoors in a range of normal weather conditions.

Activities can be adapted according to the weather and conditions on the site. If severe weather or another safety concern means the visit cannot go ahead, we will contact the school as early as possible to discuss rearranging it.

Safety and safeguarding

Project Rewild will provide relevant activity and site risk assessments before the visit.

Our sessions are led by experienced outdoor educators with appropriate safeguarding, first aid and outdoor leadership experience.

School staff remain responsible for their pupils and should provide appropriate supervision throughout the visit. Schools should tell us in advance about any medical, behavioural, accessibility or additional support needs that may affect participation.

Project Rewild relevant policies:

What does Project Rewild provide?

We will provide:

  • Experienced Project Rewild facilitators

  • Planning and delivery of the day

  • Activities and equipment

  • Relevant risk assessments

  • Information to help prepare pupils and families

  • A programme adapted to the season, site and group

What does the school provide?

Schools will need to:

  • Arrange and fund transport

  • Provide appropriate accompanying staff

  • Bring packed lunches and drinking water

  • Ensure children have suitable clothing and footwear

  • Follow their usual consent, medical and emergency procedures

  • Share relevant pupil needs with Project Rewild before the visit

Active by Nature

What is Active by Nature?

Active by Nature helps children discover that being active does not have to mean taking part in competitive or organised sport.

Our positive, engaging sessions explore outdoor play, movement, wellbeing, screen-time balance and the many ways children can become more active in their everyday lives.

Activities and discussions can include:

  • Why movement is important for our bodies and minds

  • How time outside can support wellbeing

  • Finding a healthy balance between screen time and active time

  • Building confidence through outdoor play

  • Simple ways to become more active close to home

  • Discovering the woods, parks, hills and beaches around Hastings and St Leonards

What formats are available?

We can work flexibly with each school and shape the programme around its pupils, timetable and priorities.

Options include:

  • A one-hour session

  • A whole-school or year-group assembly

  • An interactive class workshop

  • Sessions with smaller groups

  • Workshops for individual classes

  • Activities for a whole year group

  • A combination of assemblies and workshops

  • A half-day or whole-day programme

We can discuss your aims and recommend a format that will work well for your school.

Who can take part?

Active by Nature is suitable for children and young people aged 7–16.

We can work with:

  • Small targeted groups

  • Individual classes

  • Multiple classes

  • Whole year groups

The programme may be particularly valuable for children who are currently less active, lack confidence in PE or competitive sport, spend limited time outdoors or would benefit from a more flexible and inclusive approach to movement.

Where are sessions delivered?

Active by Nature sessions are delivered at your school.

Depending on the agreed format, we may use:

  • A classroom

  • A school hall

  • An assembly space

  • The playground

  • The school field or outdoor areas

We will agree any space, equipment and technology requirements with you beforehand.

What does the school need to provide?

Preparation for school staff will be kept to a minimum.

Schools will normally need to provide:

  • A suitable space for the agreed session

  • Appropriate staff supervision

  • Access to presentation equipment where required

  • Information about pupil needs or school priorities

Project Rewild will plan and lead the session and provide the necessary activities and resources.

Frequently asked questions

Can our school take part in both projects?

Yes. Schools are welcome to take part in either High Weald Connections, Active by Nature or both opportunities.

Are the opportunities free?

Yes. Project Rewild’s activities, equipment and delivery costs are funded.

For High Weald Connections, schools are responsible for arranging and funding transport to and from the site.

Active by Nature is delivered at your school with no charge to the school.

Can sessions be adapted for children with additional needs?

We want our activities to be as inclusive as possible. Please tell us about your pupils’ needs when expressing an interest so we can discuss reasonable adaptations and whether the proposed setting and activities will be suitable.

Do teachers need to prepare lessons beforehand?

No specific teaching preparation is required. We will agree the programme with you and provide any information needed before the session or visit.

Are risk assessments available?

Yes. Relevant Project Rewild risk assessments will be provided before delivery.

What happens after the activity?

We will ask participating schools to complete a short feedback form. This helps us evaluate the funded projects and improve future opportunities for local children.

Express your interest

To express an interest, please contact Project Rewild and include:

  • Your school’s name

  • Your name and role

  • The opportunity you are interested in

  • The preferred year group or key stage

  • The approximate number of pupils

  • Your preferred dates, term or time of year

  • Any additional needs or access considerations

We will then contact you to discuss the most suitable format, possible dates and practical arrangements.

Contact Luke at Project Rewild

Email: info@projectrewild.co.uk
Telephone: 07557 146626

High Weald Connections:
https://projectrewild.co.uk/high-weald-connections

Active by Nature:
https://projectrewild.co.uk/active-by-nature

Together, we can help local children get outside, get active and connect with the wild spaces around them.