Connection, Education, Enjoyment
In 2025 College Valley Estates developed an education and access strategy to deliver a wide variety of educational projects and landscape experiences to young people. The aim is always to encourage connection, education and enjoyment. We are proud to work with a wide variety of partner organisations to deliver these experiences.
Primary, Secondary and SEN Schools
In 2025 we will provide over 330 Primary School aged children with a full day of outdoor education. We seek to engage local primary schools and those from nearby under-served communities. Schools can come for a day or stay overnight. Each class’s experience is unique and exciting, full of nature, wildness and history.
Feedback from children
It was amazing to see so many fish darting about in the college burn.
I was so excited to see a slow worm slither across the path.
Working with local secondary schools we will deliver curriculum linked, field studies days to 150 pupils. A-level Environmental Science, Geography and Biology, BTEC Land Based Studies and GCSE geography and biology students will all be given the opportunity to visit and learn from the College Valley Landscape. With experiences including surveying peat bogs, learning about glacial formation of valleys, measuring river flow and using river invertebrates to assess water quality.
We are supporting students from local SEN schools to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Students will take part in conservation activities, hill hikes, heritage projects and science based activities over a series of day trips and unforgettable residential activities.
Colleges and Universities
Northumberland College’s BSc Wildlife Management students recently enjoyed a 3 day residential trip. Visiting nearby Mindrum Farm to explore the importance of soil ecology, surveying the wilderness area to identify key indicator species of plants, birds and invertebrates and using River Kick Sampling techniques to assess the health of the college burn.
College Valley Estates are currently working with Newcastle University to develop real world questions that students of Biology, Geography and Natural Sciences can answer with carefully crafted research and field work, contributing to their degrees and our knowledge of the College Valley.
Youth Community Groups
We are working with a wide variety of youth groups to provide their members with meaningful experiences in the College Valley. Team building adventures, practical conservation tasks and challenging hikes have all taken place. Groups involved so far have included Whittingham Scouts, Alnwick Girls Rugby Team, Berwick Youth Project and Northumberland Young Carers.
If you feel your educational establishment or youth group would benefit from a trip to the College Valley please contact our Education and Access Programme Manager Bridie Melkerts on Bridie@college-valley.co.uk
Community Groups and The College Valley
Encouraging and supporting visits to the College Valley from a wide variety of community groups is a key aim of the College Valley Estates. Community groups are welcome to visit the College Valley independently at any time and parking at Hethpool Car Park is always free. However, if you would like to receive some extra assistance with your community group visit please contact Bridie@college-valley.co.uk who will be very happy to support you. Whether it’s photography, botany, history, walking, poetry or an emotional support group we would be delighted to ensure your members benefit from spending time in the time College Valley.
