Willsbridge Mill

Environmental Education Centre

Willsbridge Mill is the Trust's main education and visitor centre, based in a restored 19th century corn mill with adjoining long barn, and set in a 22-acre nature reserve. It provides practical environmental education for all ages and training for teachers.

Set in a peaceful valley in the midst of housing estates in South Gloucestershire, the nature reserve has a variety of habitats including meadow, woodland, scrub, ponds, stream and a wildlife garden, around which the schools programme activities are based. The reserve is also open to the public all year round, and the centre (including a hands-on exhibition, countryside information point and toilets) is open on the days of school group visits and on days when events are being held.

Please ring 0117 932 6885 for details of opening days.

Special events open to the public are held at Willsbridge throughout the year (see Events Programme), and there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in a range of activities (see How you can help). Rooms are available for hire (eg for community group meetings, training days, conferences), and Wildlife Discovery Days are also available for children's groups and birthday parties.

Local groups can get involved in community arts projects such as tree dressing and Gateway Sculpture workshops.

Education Programme
There are programmes available for all ages from Reception to Year 9. All programmes have strong curriculum links - especially Science, Geography, English, Maths and Art. The activities are hands-on and involve active learning. An outline is given below; for further information please contact us and ask for full programme details to be sent.

Literacy and Numeracy Hour
The Trust is aware of the current changes in the school curriculum. Our environmental education will support your literacy and numeracy hours back in school and will give breadth and balance to the curriculum. Opportunities will arise from your visit for using different texts, instructions, diary, poetry, counting, estimation etc, and a Literacy Pack is available with follow-up material for the classroom.

1. Wild! Alive! activities - to Year 6
Available all year round for groups of up to 80 children. Groups choose two of the following activities led by Willsbridge staff: pond dipping; stream survey. All groups also visit the exhibition (led by school staff) with interactive displays and worksheets.

2. Woodland Workshops - for Years 3 - 6
Available for groups of up to 60 children. Groups do three activities - 'The World in a Tree', 'Rotters and Recycling' and the exhibition (see above).

3. Secondary Programme - for Years 7 - 9
Available all year round for groups of up to 60 children. The programme is made up of a rotation of three activities: stream survey with pollution study, pond ecology and woodland ecology. Geography activities are also available on request. Worksheets and extension work are provided, designed to meet several aspects of the science curriculum for KS 3. Willsbridge staff and school staff lead the activities.

4. Key Stage 4 and 'A' Level
The resources at Willsbridge Mill are available for staff to use for their own project work with students in biology, geography and other studies.

Other details

• Times: 9.45am to 2.15pm

• Cost: £6.50 + VAT per child for a day visit. £5 plus VAT for half a day visit.

• Cost of secondary & universities £7.50 + VAT per student for a day visit.

  (NB VAT can be paid by your LEA)

• Adults: up to six adults free (nine for reception classes).

• Groups: maximum size 80 - minimum size 45 in the summer term. Children work in groups of up to 20 led by Willsbridge staff and rotate around the activities during the day's visit.

To make your booking for the Education programme, please complete and email or post the form on this page.