What is the Ecology Park?
The Ecology Park is a 4 acre freshwater wetland site on the Greenwich
Peninsula. It was created by English Partnerships (the government
regeneration agency) in 2000 as part of the redevelopment of brownfield
land on the Peninsula and forms the central focus of the Greenwich
Millennium Village. The Trust for Urban Ecology was brought in to
manage the site in February 2002 and the Park has since been open
to the public, hosting events and school visits.
The Park comprises 2 lakes plus areas of shingle beach, marsh,
meadow and wet woodland. The site has a network of wooden boardwalks,
2 bird hides and some interesting special features to attract
wildlife. The Park is situated beside the River Thames with good
views over a natural shoreline.
What can the Ecology Park offer schools?
A visit to the Ecology Park is a practical experience of an urban
nature site with a range of habitats, complementing many areas
of the National Curriculum (see below) and other stages of study.
The wardens offer guided tours of the Park and can focus on any
topic that fits in with your area of study. We can also offer
help with survey work on plants, birds and invertebrates, including
dragonflies and damselflies in the warmer months (May to October).
We can provide worksheets or fun quizzes on various topics if
requested in advance.
The wardens can also extend the tour to take in other areas of
the Greenwich Peninsula and parts of the Millennium Village to
look at aspects of urban design and sustainable development. We
are keen to encourage the next generation of planners and architects
to think about the inclusion of nature in development schemes,
whether urban or rural.
We welcome and encourage visits by special needs units and schools
and can adapt visits and topics to suit your requirements. If
you are a local school, we can also arrange back up visits to
take a look at your school grounds. If you don't already have
a wildlife area, we can advise you on how to go about creating
one.
If you would like your students to get involved in practical
conservation work, we can arrange habitat management tasks in
spring, autumn and winter - ask the wardens for more details.
For half day or short session visits, you can arrive early or
stay later for a picnic lunch if you advise the wardens when booking.
If booking half days visits for 2 classes, please be aware, when
arranging lunch, that the Gatehouse centre can only accommodate
one class at any one time. There is a larger village green close
by suitable for picnics. In wet weather, you may be able to sit
in the Gatehouse but it will be cramped!
Before a booking is accepted, you must read the Health
and Safety Guidelines for Visiting Schools, sign the attached
form and send it back to us (or bring it with you on the day of
your booking).
 Information
for Primary Schools
Information
for Secondary Schools
Information
for Higher Education Colleges & Universities
Health
and Safety Guidelines for Visiting Schools
|
