Wild and Free bursary scheme

Bringing children closer to nature

Our Wild and Free educational bursary programme has enabled thousands of primary school children from deprived areas the opportunity to take part in a free one-day education session at one of our education centres. 

People are healthier and happier when they can enjoy time in natural open spaces. There is strong evidence to show that people benefit from improved physical, mental and emotional health and well-being through regular contact with nature. This is especially true of children who are becoming increasingly disconnected from wild spaces.

About the project

BBOWT is dedicated to inspiring as many children as possible to engage with nature. To achieve this, our experienced education teams deliver a wide variety of curriculum-based programmes to teach children about the natural world. These take place at our four education centres across the three counties:

• Nature Discovery Centre (Berkshire)

• Woolley Firs (Berkshire)
• College Lake (Buckinghamshire)
• Sutton Courtney (Oxford)

In 2018, we launched our Wild and Free bursary programme. Over two years this project has enabled thousands of primary school children from deprived areas the opportunity to take part in a free one-day education session at one of our education centres. Free coach travel enables the children to take part in outdoor, imaginative, hands-on activities designed to take the children on an immersive journey of learning and discovery.

There are opportunities to explore different habitats and to find out about local animals and plants. Being creative and having fun is an important part of the day too! Each session takes place during term-time, is curriculum linked and tailored to the age and experience of the visiting group.

Impacts

This project has:

• Provided enriching opportunities for children within the three counties to engage with nature’s benefits, some for the very first time in their lives.
• Increased children’s confidence, social, physical and educational development.
• Combated under achievement and improved children’s behaviour.
• Encouraged teachers to take their class outdoors to learn about nature.
• Built stronger relationships with existing schools and developed relationships with new schools within urban areas.

We have been grateful to secure funding for the running of the programme from The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Ernest Cook Trust, Hodge Foundation, The Hobson Charity, The Shanly Foundation, The National Philanthropic Trust, The Avast! Foundation and Aylesbury Vale Community Trust.