Schools and Groups at Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean
Puzzlewood is an excellent destination for school outings. Not only is it a fun and physically active place, it can be linked to so many areas of the national curriculum. For example, outdoor learning, literacy, history, geography, science, art and drama.
If the visit is purely for fun, the children can find seven features hidden in the wood, explore the indoor maze, meet our animals, let off steam in the outdoor playground then picnic and/or buy refreshments and souvenirs from our shop. Outdoor picnic tables and an indoor room are available.Contact helen@puzzlewood.net to arrange a free preview visit without obligation.
Photo courtesy of Naomi Hobbs.
We are happy to tailor the visit to your needs and here are a few examples of events that we have hosted or will host in association with schools:
1) Little Red Riding Hood - January - Harewood Junior school visited with 90 Year 3 students for a Little Red Riding Hood Literacy Adventure. We have 30 Red Riding Hood capes and baskets available for use.
2) Midsummer Nights Dream - June - 60 students are coming to re-enact Midsummer Nights Dream for their GCSC English. They will perform and film the event for their course work.
3) Harry Potter - July - 60 students are coming for a Harry Potter Day. After exploring the woods, they are having a ‘feast’ onsite. Our new education/party room will be dressed as a banqueting hall with house tables, a head table for staff, delicious food requested by the children and decorated with owls and candles hanging from the ceiling!
4) The Romans – July – 30 students are coming dressed as Romans to search for treasure. A Roman feast is being planned instead of the normal ‘picnic’.
5) Found in the Forest (Youth Theatre for the Forest of Dean Ages 8-18) - August. The children are spending a day writing and rehearsing a performance. Then in the afternoon performing it for their families, friends and other visitors.
To assist you we have completed a sample risk assessment document in Word, that has been compiled by previous school visits.
History - Iron ore mined and smelted from Iron Age through to Roman Times. 3,000 Roman coins were found here and are now in Chepstow Museum.
Geography - 'Scowles' - geological feature unique to the Forest of Dean. Formed through the erosion of natural underground cave systems formed in the Carboniferous Limestone many millions of years ago.
Art and Photography - Natural beauty of the trees, flowers and root formations. It’s the perfect place for art and photography students and enthusiasts.
English - Descriptive writing.
Science - Life cycles of plants and animals.
School parties must be splt into groups of a maximum of 8 and have to be accompanied into the wood by an adult. We will be happy to give each group a short introductory talk on the history of the wood and its origins.