Natural England - Derbyshire Dales: school and community groups

Derbyshire Dales: school and community groups

Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve consists of parts of five limestone valleys: Lathkill Dale, Cressbrook Dale, Monks Dale, Hay Dale and Long Dale.

It is home to a wide range of habitats including flower-rich grasslands, ancient semi-natural ash woods, and streams such as the River Lathkill with its exceptionally pure water. The area is also of importance for its archaeology, geology and spectacular landscape.

The reserve’s outreach and education staff are on hand to offer a wide variety of engaging outdoor learning opportunities. These are mainly at Lathkill Dale but we can also offer days on other parts of the reserve. The overall aim of these sessions is to help children and others understand about the habitats, wildlife and geology of the area in an enjoyable and interactive way that, where necessary, links directly to the National Curriculum.

The menu of visits offered to schools and other groups can be found below. If required, these standard days can often be modified to suit the age, abilities, time available and interests of your group.

Primary school visits

Lathkill Education Service

Four activity days for Key Stage 2 delivered during the year but mainly during the Spring and Summer.

Lathkill’s Watery World: (287kb)
Investigate the life in our dew ponds and discover how living creatures are adapted to their environment.

Why the River Disappears: (334kb)
Solve the mystery of the disappearing River Lathkill through this investigation of the geology and wildlife of the area.

Meadow Magic: (339kb)
Spend a day in our beautiful hay meadows learning about the importance of biodiversity and the way in which this is influenced by farming practices.

Woodland Ways: (263kb)
Develop an understanding of woodland ecology and discover the ways in which people have changed woodlands over time.

Autumn and Winter programme

Environmental Pottery Project: (699kb)
Spend a morning in the dale investigating minibeasts or woodlands. Then head indoors to work with an artist to produce artworks inspired by the natural environment. Particularly suitable for groups who have not had much previous experience of the outdoors.

Biodiversity for Beginners: (443kb)
Find out about the meaning and importance of biodiversity and how you can help look after it through this highly interactive day delivered at your school by Natural England staff. Available only to schools within approximately 30 minutes drive of the reserve.

Secondary school visits

An introduction to Derbyshire Dales
A quick introduction to the National Nature Reserve for secondary school groups visiting the reserve to deliver their own programme. As well as providing a general introduction to the area the session can be tailored to the particular focus of your visit e.g. geology, ecology, conservation, recreation, history and archaeology

Survey and Monitoring
Play your part in supporting conservation work on the reserve by carrying out survey and monitoring work. Potential focuses include monitoring butterfly numbers and surveying vegetation, for example in our hay meadows.

Other groups

As well as sessions with schools we can offer work with uniformed groups, youth groups and adult groups.

Environmental pottery project
This enjoyable and creative day can also be run for groups of young people and adults. See above for details.

Guided walks with activities
Daytime and evening sessions with a variety of themes and activities to suit the particular age and needs of your group. Sessions can be tailored to support work towards the conservation and naturalist badges of uniformed groups.

Practical conservation work
An opportunity to get involved in the management of the reserve and learn about the area at the same time. All necessary tools and safety equipment are provided.

Practical information

Clothing: The dales can be wet, cold and windy at any time of year so warm and weatherproof clothing is essential. In hot weather, groups are also advised to bring sun cream, sun hats and drinks as there is very little shade in some parts of the area. Trainers are generally suitable footwear for work in the valley bottoms and in dry summer weather. Otherwise boots are recommended as some paths are rocky and can be slippery when wet.

Toilets: There are no toilets in the dales themselves but Lathkill Dale has public toilets close by at both the top (Monyash layby) and bottom (Over Haddon public car park) ends of the dale.

Health and safety: Derbyshire Dales outreach and education staff all have enhanced CRB checks and up to date outdoor first aid training.

All of our standard school/group sessions have been risk assessed and risk assessments will be provided to you before your visit. It is your responsibility to read this and let your group know in advance the key points from this.

It is the school’s/group’s responsibility to ensure an adequate adult:child ratio in line with guidance from your own organisation or Local Education Authority.

The group leader should ensure that, whilst on site, they have access to all pupil permission/contact/health details. Any relevant health issues (e.g. movement difficulties, severe allergies) should be made known to the Natural England staff in advance.

Please note that mobile phone reception across much of the reserve and particularly in valley bottoms is poor or non-existent. Public telephones are available in Over Haddon and Monyash and, in emergencies, local farms have phones.

Accessibility: The lower half of Lathkill Dale is accessible from the Over Haddon end along a level track suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs and there are disabled parking spaces a short distance away.

The hay meadows at the Monyash end of Lathkill Dale and the northern end of Cressbrook Dale are both close to roads with relatively level access.

Please make us aware of access or other needs when planning your visit so that we can accommodate these.

Directions and parking: For Lathkill Dale, coaches can park at the public car park at the village of Over Haddon. Otherwise coaches can drop off and pick up (but not park) at the Monyash end of the dale or at Haddon Grove which gives access to the central part of the dale. Minibuses can also park in the village of Monyash.

Parking is more restricted on other parts of the reserve and may require dropping off/ picking up and then parking elsewhere. Please note that some access to the reserve is along narrow lanes so please contact us to discuss before booking your visit.

Staying nearby: There are a number of Youth Hostels nearby to the reserve including Youlgreave (the closest to Lathkill Dale) and Eyam (the closest to Cressbrook Dale).

There are also a number of camping barns nearby.

Further information and booking

For further information and to book a visit please contact one of the following: Caroline Thomas - tel: 01629 812117 or email caroline.thomas@naturalengland.org.uk, or
Paul Maddox – tel: 01629 810579 or email paul.maddox@naturalengland.org.uk