Alternative Education 
​Sustainable Landscapes

We work with groups of young people and students aged  8-19 from a wide range of backgrounds and in particular we specialise in working with 'hard-to-reach' young people, including those with emotional needs and learning difficulties.

Young Peoples Wild Flower Project

​​​​With our experienced NCFE and BELA qualified tutor Jonathon Huet,  young people have been engaging in long-term conservation tasks to improve the biodiversity of the lowland woodlands and chalk-downland of our land in the heart of the South Downs. This is the project that caught the attention of the CPRE judges in 2019.
The pupils are growing the plants, planting them out and then seeing them flourish in our meadows on the top of the site as well as on the chalk downland area adjacent to our natural woodlands burial.

The biodiversity achieved on the site has created the opportunity to look at basic botany and plant identification which when connected to the uses of plants has really excited the pupils.
 
"We are going to collect and bottle wild plants and create our own pharmacy"
Pupil Comment.
 
The pupils set about creating their own natural apothecary collecting wild plants and creating syrups from berries, herbal teas from leaf, bud and flowers enabling them to get to know the plants with a hands-on approach. Sourcing the plants worked a treat at keeping their interest and they were even able to teach their own plant identification walks!

Young Peoples Woodland Project

Our NCFE trained tutor Sean has worked with a wide variety of individuals and groups starting in 2005 and the Centre is proud to have played a part in each of these young peoples lives. 

Sean specialises in bushcraft, woodland conservation and traditional and historic crafts. He has a wealth of experience in working with hard to reach young people. Feedback from schools and pupils highlights the value of this long term programme for young people. 
​​"Sean is an expert in getting the most out of the students. General attendance at school has improved and behaviour has changed for the better. The whole concept of working and being treated as an adult (the students words) has helped them immensely to become rounded, more mature students able to cope with school life." 
Head Teacher, The Petersfield School.

"The tailor- made programme we created for him with the help of Sean has clearly had an impact on the choices he is making for his future".
Pierre Neollier, Little Green School.

"I have found that the Centre has helped me in school and on the streets, I feel that Sean and Anna have showed me how to communicate better." 
Edward.

​CPRE Countryside Awards 2019
We won!

We are proud to have won the 'Young People' Category with our outstanding work offering our 'Sustainable Landscapes' courses to vulnerable young people.

This category had a particular focus on developing an appreciation, knowledge and love of the countryside.
Sponsored by Forest Holidays.

The Countryside Awards Ceremony took place on 17th September 2019. Nigel Atkinson Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire presented the Awards and Certificates to the Winners and Finalists.

http://www.cprehampshire.org.uk/awards

John Muir Award

We offer a certificated programme 'Practical Environmental Skills', which covers: Bushcraft/ Survival Skills; Green Wood Crafts & Woodland Management and we can also tailor a programme to suit the groups needs. 
Pupils can work towards both Practical Environment Skills and the John Muir Award during their placement.
​The John Muir award is a constant source of inspiration for teaching enabling the students to gain valuable experience in sustainability, conservation and caring for the environment as well as acquiring precious lessons in managing their own emotions and behaviour outside a formal classroom setting.

This is achieved through building skills in team work, self-motivation, communication, self-confidence and leadership. John Muir is an ideal role model as he was a keen adventurer and explorer who achieved so much with little support through his hard work and keen motivation.

Young Natural Ambassadors Award

We have been able to offer a Bursary place to a young person giving them the chance to gain experience of traditional crafts and outdoor skills. This 18 day bursary placement has been spread over a year period enabling participants to work from home on projects started here at the centre.

​We have run 6 years of this bursary and previous participants have chosen to focus their time on a range of different skills from bushcraft and conservation to ancient saxon crafts.