Outdoor Classroom for Educational Visit — The outdoor classroom for educational visits

School Visits

Well-planned visits to Stover Country Park will develop awareness, understanding and respect for this local environment. This may include:

appreciation of diverse habitats; woodland, heathland, lake, grassland and marsh
understanding of the sensitive web of plant and animal life within these habitats and how they change through the seasons
recognition of the pressures of human population on wildlife and how pressures may be managed
enjoyment, enthusiasm and awareness generated from experiencing the environment and taking part in creative, physical and environmental activities
understanding of the historical and economic development of the landscape

Make a booking

If you would like to arrange an activity or school visit please phone the rangers’ office on 01626 835236 or email stover@devon.gov.uk.

Charges

School children at the Park — Children on the aerial walkway

We have access to Higher Level Stewardship funding for trips to the Park, which allows some visits to be free of charge. Your group must be aged from 4 to 18 years old and your visit must be for at least 2 hours, accompanied by a ranger. Youth clubs, toddler groups and extra-curricular events are not eligible.

Funding is limited and is arranged on a first come first serve basis. If you do not fit into the conditions above then the following charges will be applied to your visit:

£2.50 per child for half a day or £3 if a non-Devon County Council (DCC) School
£5 per child for a full day or £6 if a non-DCC School

What type of activities are possible?

A wide range of activities are possible. The rangers would be pleased to discuss any ideas schools may have. Examples are given below of activities that have been developed at the park.

Full day activities for primary schools

If you are visiting for a full day you can choose two half-day activities. Alternatively, we offer the full-day programmes shown below:

Flowering plants – Key Stage 1 and 2 Science Activity

Aim: to appreciate the diversity of plant life and learn to identify a range of flora within the park. Learn the different parts and functions of a flowering plant along with processes such as seed dispersal and germination.

This will include some/all of:

A habitat walk to identify and view plants living in a variety of habitats, with a selection of activities along the route.
A workshop consisting of games and activities based on some/all of the following: parts and functions of flowering plants, pollination, germination, seed dispersal, water transport in plants, collecting and identifying leaves.

Stream study – Key Stage 2 Science Activity

Aim: To carry out a study of a meander and collect data on a range of geographical and/or biological features of the stream.

This can either be a half or full-day session depending on how many of the below are covered:

Learn about the journey of the stream from source to mouth.
Label the features of a meander and make a sketch.
Measure water flow rates at different points of the meander.
Measure the depth of the water along a cross-section of the meander.
Measure and compare the size of the bedload at different points along the cross-section of the meander.
Investigate the pollution of watercourses by collecting and identifying invertebrates to calculate a water quality score. This can either be done in the stream or the pond depending on the conditions of the stream on the day.
Explore the use of scientific equipment for measuring water quality, by taking readings for turbidity, dissolved solids, phosphate levels and PH.

Please note: Stream conditions will be assessed by the ranger on the day. If conditions are suitable, groups may be able to enter the stream to collect data. If not, fieldwork will be conducted from the bank or alternative activities will be offered. We recommend wearing wellington boots for this activity. The stream is a 15/20 minute walk (each way) from the Stover Centre.

Secrets Behind the Gate – Key Stage 2 Local History Study

Time required: 2 – 3 hours. Please note: this session is available to book from the start of the summer term 2026.

Aim: This session will help to develop a sense of place and identity and understand change and continuity over time at Stover Country Park.

Children will:

Practice historical enquiry and interpretation using real sources, a range of artefacts and place.
Discover how Stover’s history is important both locally and nationally and see how the class structured society impacted local lives.

This will include some/all of:

A guided walk to Stover’s 19th Century Granite Gatehouse learning about:
The Victorian Era and how the history of Stover Country Park is connected to this period.
Past owners of Stover Country Park and how they have influenced the built and natural landscape of the Park.
The popularity of Plant Hunters amongst wealthy Victorians and their contribution to the introduction of non-native plants to the U.K.
Native, non-native and invasive plant species and the effects these plants can have on our native wildlife.

Exploring the inside of the Gatehouse and learn about the family that lived there and imagine what their lives might have been like.
Complete a series of activities at the Gatehouse. These will encourage students to consider the design, structure and purpose of the building along with considering the people that might lived within or passed through this structure.

Additional Information:

This session involves an approx. 45 – 60 minute guided walk to our Granite Gatehouse and a 20-minute walk back to the lunch area/toilets. There are no toilets/facilities at the Gatehouse.
Due to the nature of this session, lunch will be consumed after the activity, which may be as late as 1:30pm. Snacks and drinks can be taken to the Gatehouse in backpacks if needed. If there is time remaining after lunch, an additional short activity linked to the topic will be delivered.

Half-day activities for primary schools

If you are visiting for a full day, you can choose two half day activities.

Minibeast hunting – Reception, Key Stage 1 and 2 Science Activity

Aim: Use different methods to collect and identify a range of invertebrates and learn about their lifecycles and feeding relationships

This can include (some/all of):

identification of minibeasts using keys
classification of minibeasts into different groups
body parts and functions
comparing minibeasts in woodlands and grasslands using different sampling methods
camouflage games
food chains and webs
lifecycles of different species
natural artwork, using natural materials to create pictures of minibeasts

Pond dipping – Reception, Key Stage 1 and 2 Science Activity

Aim: Use nets to collect a range of freshwater species, use keys to identify them and learn about their lifecycles, adaptations and feeding relationships.

This can include (some/all of):

identification of creatures using keys
counting and tallying numbers of each species
food chains and webs
lifecycles of different species

Habitat walk around Stover Lake – Reception, Key Stage 1 and 2 Science Activity

Aim: To gain an understanding of the different habitats at Stover, how they are managed and the diversity of plants and animals that live here.

This can include (some/all of):

tour of conifer and broadleaf woodland, marsh, lake, grassland, and heathland
identification of plants and animals
tour of reed bed systems and their function in removing pollutants from road run-off
adaptations of plants and animals in each habitat
learning how each habitat is managed
sensory games and activities
food chains and webs
history of the park and links to the Templer family

Invasive Plant Management – Upper Key Stage 2 Science

Aim: To help children develop ‘scientific enquiry thinking’ skills through data collection to answer a species management question.

This will include some/all of:

Learning about rhododendron, a non-native invasive plant species, which is widespread at Stover Country Park. Examining how it was introduced and why it is a problem.
Using fieldwork skills to collect data at three different sites to examine the effect of rhododendron removal on the growth of native plants.
Test an experimental hypothesis.
Use quadrats to record vegetation abundance, height and species across three sites.
Discuss initial conclusions based on the data collection and consider ideas for further research.

Quest for the Lost World – A Reception and Key Stage 1 History and Geography of Place Session

Please note: this session is available to book from the start of the summer term 2026.

Aim: This session will help children understand why past explorers went in search of rare and exotic plants; how they used maps and some of the skills that would have been required of a plant hunter.

This can include some/all of:

Learning about plant hunters and the reasons why wealthy Victorians prized exotic plants for their estates.
Following a simple ‘plant hunters’ map and engage in activities along the way learning about native and non-native plants and imagining things the plant hunters might have seen on their journeys and the skills they might have needed.
Explore a ‘rucksack’ of items a plant hunter might have taken on their travels.

Ted Hughes Poetry Trail – A Self Led Key Stage 1 and 2 Literacy and Poetry Activity

Collect a self- led poetry activity guide from the rangers office which will:

Provide background information on Ted Hughes.
Contain ideas for sensory and speaking and listening activities that can be carried out during your visit to develop literacy and language skills.
Provide information that can be used to help the children write their own nature inspired poems during their visit.

This guide can be emailed to teachers prior to the visit.

This activity can also be ranger led.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Many of the above activities, such as pond dipping, minibeast hunting and habitat walks, can be adapted to suit EYFS groups. We also offer story-based walks including a bear hunt which involves following a trail around the park, negotiating tall grass, squishy mud and a snowstorm to find the bear. If you have any topics you would particularly like to be covered please call/email us to discuss this further.

Activities for secondary schools

All topics mentioned above can be adapted to suit a secondary school visit.

The development of some of our educational activities and resources has been made possible with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to the Lottery Players and many other funders.