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OFFWELL ENVIRONMENT LINK Environmental Education & Wildlife Conservation Field Days - Talks - Classes - Projects - Surveys |
About the Woodland Education Centre
(Offwell Environment Link help to support the work which takes place at the
Centre)
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A Wide range of Habitats The 50-acre Centre consists of a variety of re-created native British wildlife habitats on a Forestry Commission site. It is managed by the Offwell Woodland & Wildlife Trust and is situated in East Devon in the southwest of England. When practical work began at the site in 1986 it was overrun with a vast jungle of sterile Rhododendron ponticum. In many places the Rhododendron ponticum was over three times the height of a person. As a result native plants and the animals which rely on them had disappeared. Now much of the woodland has been restored and supports woodland plants and animals such as badgers, deer and woodpeckers. Work funded by BT and English Nature has increased the habitat for dormice which are nationally endangered. A recently cleared area of woodland has been surveyed and monitored and a Woodland Restoration Report is available. An area of heathland is being restored and a comprehensive report is available which features surveys, before and after pictures as well as a statistical analysis. The Centre now has three ponds and a small lake, as well as wetlands and a marsh. As a result it is a major amphibian and dragonfly breeding site. Up to two thousand toads spawn in a good year as well as significant numbers of frogs. Other species which breed regularly include kingfishers. More information here. |
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Community Benefits The Centre, via the Offwell Woodland and Wildlife Trust, is actively involved in environmental education within the community, stimulating greater interest in British wildlife and countryside issues. It also promotes enjoyment of the countryside and generates greater awareness of its importance. A range of practical, academic and fun activities are available so that people of all ages can get involved. These include the Young Rangers Club for 8-14 year olds; Family Activity Days, walks and courses. |
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Site users The Centre staff have over a decade of experience in delivering effective education for Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and adult groups. All age ranges from 4 years and upwards are catered for, as well as all abilities. OELink holds events at the Centre for members and guests. These include fungal forays, birdwatching days and short courses. The Website. The Trust 's award-winning website (www.offwell.info) is one of the largest in the world focusing on wildlife. It has over 60,000 key words and topics about the British countryside and receives over 100,000 hits a week. It is part of Britain's National Grid for Learning. People from over 100 countries visit the website every month. It is also used by schools, colleges, universities, companies, and even the BBC. |
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On-Site Educational Facilities The Centre provides hands-on practical environmental
studies and activities, geared to the National Curriculum where appropriate. Experienced staff are available to lead
activities, either at the Centre or at other chosen locations. Activities
can be tailored to individual requirements. Facilities include two classrooms, one of which
is a log cabin with disabled access. Paths are well maintained and
negotiable. Practical fieldwork is complemented by a wide variety of IT
resources. A digital photographic record of the visit is provided as part of the service offered at the Centre. This includes relevant images of the students carrying out the various tasks, to provide a personalized memory record of the visit. These images are then sent to the school on CD-ROM a few days later. The CD-ROM also contains a wide variety of digital resources. It includes image banks, movie clips, sounds and an interactive map of the Centre. The images can be used in desk top publishing, for display and as a basis for follow-up work. Provided this material is utilized solely for educational purposes and not for financial gain, there is no restriction on its use. |
Telephone 01404 831375
E-Mail
enquiries@oelink.free-online.co.uk