INTERREG-funded school visits
London Wetland Centre
In April 2006 pupils from four Bexhill primary schools visited the London Wetland Centre. The aims of the visit were to introduce the pupils to a wetlands environment and to thank them for taking part in the consultation workshops for the Pebsham Countryside Park Project.
The schools involved were:
- Little Common Primary School
- Pebsham Community Primary School
- Sidley Community Primary School
- St Mary Magdalene’s Catholic Primary School.
At the wetland centre the group looked around the discovery centre and watched a film explaining the importance of wetland sites. An education officer led a 'mini beast safari' where the children searched for different mini beasts in the soil and bushes and the teacher identified the species.
The children all thoroughly enjoyed the visit and were keen to find out more about the different species of birds and insects. The teachers took away teaching packs in order to carry out follow-up work on their visit.
Pupil at London Wetland Centre
Lille Mosaic Gardens
In May 2006, three secondary school groups took part in a visit to the Mosaic Gardens in Lille. The gardens were created to celebrate the different communities that have settled in Lille since the beginning of the 20th century.
The schools involved were:
- Bexhill High
- The Grove
- Tressell Training.
Nine pupils, four teachers and two East Sussex County Council staff went on the trip as a follow-up to the student workshop which took place as part of the public consultation for the Pebsham Countryside Park Project.
During the journey, each student was given a list of useful French phrases to encourage them to speak French during their visit. The students were given a guided tour of the gardens by an English speaking guide who explained the ideas behind the different garden designs.
The students were very impressed with the site and were pleased to have seen an example of an open space that has been transformed in an exciting way. They hoped that this type of themed garden could be built into the Pebsham design.
Students at the Mosaic Gardens, Lille
Walking around the Mosaic Garden, Lille
Both of these visits were funded by the INTERREG project Open Space with Access For All, a project part-funded by the EU.
