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Discover the New Forest National Park, help to conserve it and even develop your own local greenspace.
Our Wild Spaces Youth Officer will co-ordinate a series of 6-10 visits for your group.
This opportunity is provided by New Forest National Park.
Essentials
- Type: 6 - 10 day sessions
- Dates: Various dates from April 2021 - March 2022
- Location: Hampshire (New Forest)
- Cost: Free (travel expenses can be covered)
- Suitable for: Groups aged 11 - 25 years
About this opportunity
This series of 6-10 days of activities is offered at New Forest National Park.
You will be able to enjoy mixed placemaking, wellbeing and practical conservation activities with a variety of local providers and landowners.
Our Wild Spaces Youth Officer will co-ordinate your visits and tailor your programme to the needs of the young people in your group.
On the activity days, you will enjoy:
- getting to know our team in your own setting - an introduction to the New Forest National Park and to you
- repeat visits to the New Forest National Park (travel expenses can be covered)
- outdoor walks and wellbeing
- practical conservation tasks such as coppicing, clearing invasive plants and scrub bashing
- learn about the habitats and wildlife of the New Forest
- develop your own local greenspace (not available/essential for all groups)
- campfire cookout celebration or YHA residential (not available/essential for all groups)
Need to know
How it works
Your programme of 6-10 sessions will be tailored to meet the needs of your group, including repeat visit to the same site if a sense of familiarity is helpful.
As a guide, you can expect sessions such as:
- Week 1: Getting to know you and the New Forest - mini session at your school or setting (or virtual)
- Week 2: New Forest Wonder - take a walk and try a few games with National Park Rangers
- Week 3: Practical conservation such as coppicing with Pondhead Trust
- Week 4: Coastal walk and task such as a visit to Lepe beach to lend a hand managing the habitats
- Week 5: Practical conservation such as visit RSPB's 'secret nature reserve' Franchises Wood
- Week 6: Get on wheels - try out accessible cycling with PedAll New Forest
- Week 7: Birdwatching and campfire cookout at Blashford Lakes, with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
- Week 8: Make a change in your space - evaluation session and looking forward
Learning outcomes
Our experienced staff will want to know all about your group so you can get the most out of these sessions.
Some of the benefits:
- escape the everyday
- connect to nature
- undertake a purposeful physical task
- work as a team
- plan a project and see it through
What to bring
Sessions typically run from 10:00 - 14:00 on weekdays, with some flexibility.
You will need a packed lunch, clothing and footwear to keep you safe and comfortable outdoors all day. Please discuss this with the Wild Spaces Youth Officer if this is a barrier to participation.
Groups must have less than 16 participants (excluding adults/group leaders).
Access guidance
Some tasks are at remote and unfamiliar locations, such as gravel tracks with limited access to toilets.
Wherever possible, we will tailor the programme and choose venues that are accessible to your group members, so please let us know as much about them as possible and chat to us.
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