Natural England - Aston Rowant: school and community groups

Aston Rowant: school and community groups

Aston Rowant NNR welcomes school groups of all ages and there is range of options you can choose from.

School group at Field Farm © Jenny Hanwell

Primary schools

A primary education packexternal link is available for download.

Joint guided visits with Field Farm

Aston Rowant NNR has its own primary curriculum linked education programme which now links with educational visits to Field Farm, Lewknor. The NNR part of the visit is currently delivered by expert staff from the Chilterns Conservation Board, supported by Natural England volunteers. All visits are currently free of charge.

This programme offers something really different, and schools can enjoy a half day visit to each site linked by an exciting trailer ride. Field Farm is wildlife friendly farm in the Higher Level Stewardship scheme which received funding from Natural England and the Chilterns Conservation Boardexternal link towards the development of new classroom and toilet facilities in 2010. The facilities are all suitable for children with limited mobility.

Farmer Murray Graham offers a wide range of educational activities related to farming, food and conservation, which link in well with those offered at Aston Rowant NNR. All visits are tailor made to suit your group, to book a visit for your class and arrange a pre-visit to discuss activities and risk assessments please call 01491 614466 or email Field Farm.

More information on Field Farm can be found on their websiteexternal link, including available dates and sample visit programmes.

Self-led visits

Guided visits to the reserve only are no longer available; all guided visits are delivered jointly with Field Farm. Primary school teachers are very welcome to use the education pack to plan and deliver their own visit to Aston Rowant NNR free of charge. If you wish to do this please contact the reserve office on 01844 351833 so that we can send you copies of the risk assessment and arrange for car park barriers to be unlocked for coaches / minibuses. Aston Rowant NNR has no toilet facilities on site so if you are planning a longer visit please contact us for advice on WC hire. We can also loan you some of the activity kits detailed in the pack for a small charge.

The Chilterns Conservation Board also have a Red Kite Education Pack which you can download, activities in this pack would link in well with a visit to view Red Kites on Aston Rowant NNR.

If you are a state school within or on the edge of the Chilterns AONB, you will have received a copy of the excellent KS2 Understanding the Chilterns in Place and Time pack, which also fits in well with a visit to the reserve. Extra copies are available from the Chilterns Conservation Boardexternal link.

Secondary schools, colleges and universities

Groups from secondary level upwards use the reserve for self led visits throughout the year, both to carry out fieldwork and for real-life demonstration purposes.

If you wish to do this please contact the reserve office on 01844 351833 so that we can send you copies of the risk assessment and arrange for car park barriers to be unlocked for coaches / minibuses. Aston Rowant NNR has no toilet facilities on site so if you are planning a longer visit please contact us for advice on WC hire. Electronic copies of the reserve management plans are available for teachers / lecturers to find out more detail about the reserve. Please email Reserve Manager Mick Venters for more information.

It is also possible to arrange a short period of work experience or arrange a student placement at Aston Rowant NNR, please contact the reserve office to discuss options.

Community visits and events

The reserve is always available to the community as a place to visit and also for events and activities. Community groups are always very welcome to use the reserve for their own walks and events as appropriate but we do ask that you contact us first and we may be able to offer you additional support and materials.

The reserve has, in recent years, hosted events by the Chiltern Gateway Projectexternal link and Wickerman Oxfordexternal link. For more information call the reserve office on 01844 351833.

For public events please refer to the regional events page.