Outdoor Learning & Sustainability

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What we do

• Wild for Learning forest-school sessions
  Led by Mrs Amanda Brown, our resident marine conservation volunteer, forest-school trained scientist with degree and ALB qualifications, children engage in immersive outdoor learning. These sessions develop confidence, creativity, risk awareness and a love of nature, as children explore woodland habitats, learn about plant and animal life cycles, work with natural materials, and uncover the wonders just beyond our gates.
• Gardening & Allotment Work
  The children get hands-on with the soil in our school allotment: planting, tending and harvesting vegetables and herbs. It’s a chance to learn about seasons, ecology, nutrition and sustainability. Home-grown produce feeds into cooking and baking, so the children learn the full journey from seed to table.
• Ocean Club & Beach Cleans
  With our marine programme, pupils investigate our environmental footprint. We ask big questions: how do our actions affect the sea, marine life and ourselves? We also put learning into action with beach cleans, helping children see the difference they can make locally.
• Parent Volunteer Expertise
  We are incredibly fortunate to have Mrs Lucy Foley — our all-round outdoor learning and gardening Mary Poppins — who brings energy, experience, creativity and care to many of our outdoor projects. Her support ensures that every child can benefit from rich, varied opportunities outside the classroom.

Why it matters

• Builds confidence, resilience and teamwork through real, physical tasks and problem solving outside.
• Helps children understand environmental issues first hand, not just through books – so that sustainability becomes part of who they are, not just what they know.
• Develops scientific thinking, observation skills, and an awareness of local ecosystems (woodland, coast, allotment).
• Encourages healthy habits: outdoor time, fresh air, connection with food sources, physical activity.
• Strengthens community ties — children work together, parents volunteer, and local coastal and conservation partnerships come alive.

Learning Outcomes & Our Promise

Every child at Eden Park will:

• Experience at least one forest-school session per term.
• Spend time in the allotment growing food, cooking or baking.
• Learn about marine conservation and environmental footprint through Ocean Club or similar projects.
• Take part in at least one beach clean or other local environmental action each year.
• Be supported by passionate experts like Mrs Brown and Mrs Foley, and by all staff, to treat our world with kindness, curiosity, and responsibility.

We believe this is more than just part of the curriculum — it is an opportunity to shape citizens who care for the world, understand their place in it, and are equipped to make it better. Our learners leave Eden Park knowing that even small actions matter.

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