Our activities offer children a unique hands-on experience in safe but natural outdoor classrooms.
Self-Led Orienteering
The park also offers 3 permanent orienteering courses with associated maps (beginner, intermediate and advanced) which are ideal for testing map reading and compass skills. These are available from the High Woods Visitor Centre.
Forest school
High Woods Country Park and several other countryside sites have forest school classrooms available for use by forest school leaders.
Highwoods:
- Chestnut Coppice
- Chanterelle
- Brinkley Grove
- Lake View
Countryside sites:
- Wivenhoe Woods
- Hilly Fields
- Welsh Wood
- Ghost Wood
If you want to discuss a forest school site in a different or new location to the sites listed above, contact the Education Ranger directly at Education.Rangers@colchester.gov.uk
To enquire about booking a forest school site complete the following form: Forest school enquiry form
Hire of our forest school sites are subject to the following:
Public Liability Insurance
You are required to hold a current policy of insurance in respect of public liability or third-party risks (including products liability where appropriate). The relevant limit of indemnity shall be an amount approved by our risk and insurance section and legal section. Under no circumstance shall this be less than £5 million and we reserve the right to require a higher limit if deemed necessary.
Risk assessments
You will also need to submit a risk assessment for the sessions, identifying all risks associated with the events and activities undertaken and what preventative measures you will take to minimise these risks.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
EIAs make sure that project decision-makers think about the likely effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce or offset those effects.
Leader Qualification Certification
A level 3 forest school leader qualification is required to lead all forest school sessions. If you are working towards your level 3, contact the Education Ranger to discuss further.
Fees and charges
Contact us
If you have any queries regarding educational visits or forest school site hire, please contact us at Education.Rangers@colchester.gov.uk