Schools & Learning Visits

engage with nature

Children can learn about nature, science and the environment by exploring the:

• Formal gardens with plants and flowers, mature trees, bird and box boxes and a bug hotel
• Community orchard with a range of fruit trees
• Wildflower area
• Sensory garden

The Park has a permanent nature trail for younger children. The trail encourages children to engage with the different habitats found here through looking, listening and doing.

To support discussions around environment, sustainability and climate change, why not do some litter picking? Litter picking kits can be borrowed from Weymouth Town Council (litter picking sticks, high-vis vests, rubbish bags and gloves). Please contact: li***********@we*****************.uk

local history

Studying  local history? Radipole Park was built nearly one hundred years ago, on land reclaimed from the Wey estuary. The ‘History of the Park’ section of this website has a timeline on how this came about, as well as written and spoken memories of the Park from local people. Historical photographs and postcards can be found in the website gallery.

On site, students can read about the history of the Park on two large interpretation boards located on the sides of the refreshment kiosk. Additional historical facts can be found on the orientation signs at each of the four main entrances.

Volunteers from the Friends of Radipole Park & Gardens have developed a walk and talk tour on the history of the Park. Please get in touch if this would be of interest for your group.

get active

There are lots of ways that children can get active and learn through play. The Park is made up of three main areas: a large recreational field, a series of outdoor sports courts and a formal garden. Schools can make use of the:

• Permanent orienteering course
• Free sports facilities: petanque court, table tennis tables, basketball court, multi-use games area and tennis courts
• Large playing field and other green spaces for team games and/or playtime
• Fenced play area with natural play equipment

Booking is not required for the courts, which operate on a first come, first served basis.

create

The formal gardens, orchard and wildflower area offer plenty of potential for nature inspired arts and crafts, photography or filming projects. The formal gardens in particular are an ideal setting for storytelling sessions, or as inspiration for children to create their own stories or poems.

For guided creative sessions, try local art group Artwey, who have a number of members who offer workshops: www.artwey.co.uk