School visits to Foxburrow Nature Reserve
Explore the rewilded habitats of Foxburrow and learn about the wildlife and habitats
Foxburrow nature reserve is a rich mosaic of wildlife habitats including ponds, woodlands, meadows and an old orchard alongside the cropped fields. The learning facilities are centred on the traditional farmyard and include the barn classroom, toilets, covered activity areas and wildlife garden.
Browse our themed sessions below, from which you can choose up to three to customise your day:
Credit Gavin Durrant
Invertebrates
Investigate the lives, life cycles and habitats of invertebrates on the reserve and learn about classification and how to observe animals closely. Pupils can use magnifiers and ID sheets to help them identify and categorise a range of invertebrates according to their characteristics.
Download the session overview and learning objectives:
Ponds
Explore the watery worlds of our ponds and learn about the different habitats and species that make up our wetland ecosystems. Pupils will learn about the importance of pond habitats and how to identify a range of aquatic invertebrates - many of which they will likely be unfamiliar with.
Download the session overview and learning objectives:
Wildflowers - Steve Aylward
Plants
This session offers an opportunity to investigate the life cycles of plants, the role of pollinators, and the function of different parts of the plant through games and activities. Pupils will look at the variety and diversity of flowering plants in the meadow habitat.
Download the session overviews and learning objectives:
Acorns at Lackford Lakes 2022
Trees
During this session, pupils will explore the different tree species at Foxburrow by looking up-close at the texture of the bark, leaf shapes, and the animals living on them. Pupils will learn about the difference between deciduous and evergreen species, and older students will use scientific equipment to calculate the height and age of a tree.
Download the session overviews and learning objectives:
Sensory (EYFS)
This session allows the students to explore the garden using all their senses, with activities designed to focus attention and to connect with nature.
Download session plan and learning objectives
Further details and booking
A whole day session is £170 for a class of up to 28 children. For classes over 28 children, an additional £6.80 per student is charged (with a maximum capacity of 60 children per day). A usual day runs between 10am and 2pm, however we can be flexible an hour either side of this.
Adult:Student ratio requirements:
Nursery and Reception 1:4
KS1 1:6
KS2 1:8
PLEASE NOTE we are fully booked for the 2025/26 academic year. Bookings are open for the 2026/27 academic year.