The Epping Forest in-house education service is based at
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge (QEHL) in Chingford. It also covers
the wider environment of the Forest. Although donations are
gratefully received, our in-house education service is free. Our
service is complemented by those provided by three other
independent learning providers (see 'Outdoor Learning' below).
Learning events
Every Epping Forest
leisure event provides an opportunity for learning and most are
structured with specific learning objectives. We run frequent
events, talks and guided walks. Take a look at our events list to
discover how you can have fun learning about the history, ecology
and management of the Forest. The staff at the
Visitor Centre in High Beach are there to answer your
questions so feel free to pay the Centre a visit or to give the
team there a call.
Themed family learning activities are held at QEHL at least one
weekend per month and there are family events at each of the three
Forest Centres during the half-term holidays; QEHL where the event
usually has a Tudor or a Victorian theme, the
Visitor Centre in High Beach where the focus is on
ecology and The Temple in Wanstead Park which is an attractive
eighteenth century building. Learning events include a
‘making’ activity aimed at 8-11 year olds but which is
suitable for all ages. Look at our forthcoming events list, or
contact the Education Officer to find out
what's happening. Our next Half-Term holiday Family Learning Events
are as follows:
October Half-Term Holiday October 2010
Please drop-in any time during the events
Monday 25 October 12.00noon - 3.00pm
at the
Visitor Centre in High Beach.
Food for Wildlife: Food will get scarce for
wild birds and animals as Winter sets in. You can help them to get
through the harshest weather and increase your chances of seeing
them up close, by giving them the right sort of picnic. Find out
what food to put out for our furry and feathered friends. Make
an environmentally-friendly bird feeder. Watch our bird feeding
station to see which birds you could attract to your
garden.
Wednesday 27 October 12.00noon - 3.00pm at
The Temple, Wanstead
Park .
Roman Mosaics: At least one Roman Villa
is thought to have stood in what is now Wanstead Park. One source
of evidence for this are tesserae (small pieces of mosaic) which
have been found in various locations. Find out about the images and
patterns used in Roman mosaics. Make your own mini mosaic to take
home.
Friday 29 October 2.00pm -
5.00pm at
Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge,
Chingford.
Art of Alchemy and Wizardry: Shortly before All
Hallows Eve, learn about the ancient "art" of alchemy which aimed
to turn base metals into gold. Make your own wizards' hat and wand.
Feel free to come in seasonal costume.
Learning at Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge (QEHL)
QEHL is a unique, atmospheric timber-framed 'hunt standing'
(grandstand) built for Henry VIII. It overlooks Chingford Plain
with the beautiful, accessible Forest stretching beyond. The
building has displays on royal deer hunting, Tudor construction and
Tudor food. There are opportunities to touch and smell
interesting objects, to dress-up in replica Tudor clothes and to
look in detail at an authentic Tudor building. There are
also lots of places of educational value within walking distance of
QEHL. A visit will bring life to any relevant area of study.
The building has a fascinating history but it is also used for
learning on a wide variety of subjects including art and local
geography. Groups of all ages and abilities visit for informal
tours or curriculum-oriented sessions led by knowledgeable,
enthusiastic staff.
QEHL is accessible by foot, road and rail with parking and
public transport links close at hand.
The location of Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge
on Multimap The following downloads will help you to
make your way to QEHL:
In 2010-2011 the Stable Block and Coach House next to QEHL will
be converted into a new Visitor Centre complete with a community
room, exhibition space and shop. This will be complemented by a
refurbished cafe, "Butlers Retreat". QEHL will remain in use
throughout this period. There will be some unavoidable
inconvenience to users such a extra noise, mud and temporary toilet
facilities; please bear with us. While the work is being completed,
the QEHL car park will be unavailable and the car park opposite
will be partially or completely out of use for some of the time.
Please check shortly before a visit, if you cannot park in the Bury
Road car park instead and walk from there. We apologise in advance
for this temporary inconvenience; it will well worth it once
the new facilities open.
Informal (Leisure)
Adult groups such as retirement clubs and children’s leisure
groups can book guided tours of the building out of public opening
hours. Please contact the Education Officer
to book a tour.
Formal (Schools)
School sessions take place outside seasonal public opening
hours. This means that your class will have QEHL to themselves!
The standard school sessions at QEHL are aimed at KS1 (1 hour) and
KS2 (1½ hours) with adaptations made for classes with special
educational needs.
Tailor-made sessions can involve simple art
activities related to the session theme. Standard sessions are
available on the Tudors and on the Gunpowder Plot.
KS2 Local Geography and History sessions were successfully
piloted in Spring 2009 and will be offered if there is sufficient
demand.
Every session is guaranteed to be an enjoyable learning experience
using as many of the senses as possible. Further information,
including how to plan a visit to QEHL, is available in our
Teachers' Information Pack.
Download
Teachers Information here
Teachers can pre-order Tudor-themed goody bags for collection at
the end of their session. The bags contain fun, educational items
and are competitively priced.
Teachers often carry out independent activities outside QEHL
immediately before or after a booked visit. We support this with
free activity sheets and the loan of clipboards.
Sessions are carefully monitored to ensure high standards of
delivery that respond to user need. This quality is reflected in
consistently complimentary feedback and growing demand for
sessions. A Teachers’ Forum comprising local educational
professionals who use the service, advises on future development.
The Education Officer would be
delighted to hear from you if you would be interested in joining
the Forum.
By visiting QEHL, pupils benefit from experiential learning in
keeping with the Government’s Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto.
Learning outside the classroom provides a powerful route to the
‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes, can support personalised learning
programmes and complements the strategy for young people set out in
‘Youth Matters’. Good quality learning outside the classroom can
lead to a deeper understanding of the concepts that span
traditional subject boundaries and which are often hard to teach
effectively using classroom methods alone. Visits can improve
children’s problem-solving and life-skills such as interpersonal
communication.
Please use the downloadable booking form below to request a
school session. Your booking will only be secure once your
form has been received and acknowledged.
Useful documents for schools
The following are available to download or open here:
Outdoor learning
Environmental sessions particularly relevant to the study of
Geography and Science, are available from
Epping Forest Field Centre and
Suntrap Field Centre. Both offer
recreational activities for families and adults as well as
school-oriented sessions .
Free, informal outdoor learning and practical activities are
provided by Epping
Forest Centenary Trust. The Trust particularly supports people
who would otherwise find it hard to access and enjoy the
Forest.
Ecology-themed goody bags for primary school children can be
pre-ordered by teachers and group leaders from the
Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is opposite Epping
Forest Field Studies Centre at High Beach. The goody bags
offer a fun, educational souvenir of a Forest-visit, whether
for leisure or following a session with one of the Forest learning
providers. They cost £3 each. A summary of the bags' contents can
be found on the
Epping Forest Field Centre website or
by contacting the
Visitor Centre.
Discovering Epping Forest (DEF) Programme
The three-year DEF programme is part of the
HLF-funded Branching Out Project. It is a partnership between
the four Epping Forest learning providers; City of London
Corporation (based at
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge), Epping Forest Field Centre
(part of the Field Studies Council), Suntrap Field Centre and
Epping Forest Centenary Trust. DEF was launched in September 2009
and involves Year 5 classes from 25 local primary schools
participating in six outdoor learning experiences every year. The
aim is introduce pupils and teachers to the Forest as an
accessible, exciting place to learn. For further information, see
'Recent Achievements'.
Contact for learning in Epping
Forest
Jo Price (Education Officer), Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting
Lodge
c/o The Coach House, Ranger’s Road, Chingford E4 7QH.
Tel 020 8529 6607
Email:
eppingforest@cityoflondon.gov.uk