Gregg Outdoors
Our Arboretum, as created by Lord Swaythling, is home to many tree, plant and animal species. In the early 1900s, Lord Swaythling took pride in planting a great many trees from the Northern Hemishpere so we reside with a wide variety, including many non-indigenous trees such as Podocarpus, Red Wood and Kentucky Coffee.
We encourage wildlife through our bee hives, bat and bird boxes, insect hotels and badger set and the woods are home to our family of deer, who roam the grounds freely. Native to our grounds are many varieties of herbs and edible plants, as well as our ancient orchard that produces an abundance of apples each year. Our Sunk Garden, designed by Gertrude Jekyll, offers another area for exploration under the encircling pergola and in the lily pond.
Outdoor lessons take place in any of these areas and in our covered outdoor classroom, fairy circle seated areas, and at our large wooden tables and black board for more detailed projects. Our Gregg Outdoor programme offers our students the chance to spend time in our fascinating external environment and to discover all that nature can offer in its different living forms.
Students enjoy hands-on learning activities, experience seasonal changes and develop a range of skills, such as:
- Creating animal feeders
- Flora and Fauna identification
- Physical group games
- Bug hunting
- Hapa Zome
- Building dens
Strong and positive relationships are built between the students and the natural world around them, promoting wellbeing. Our Gregg Outdoor leaders develop the course in accordance with the seasons.
