Free local school visits and opportunities

The Wild Oysters Project (Groundwork) 

Free workshop and field visit opportunity for Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three students.  

The Wild Oysters Project aims to restore native oyster reefs along our coastline and are currently breeding oysters in nurseries in Blyth and Sunderland marinas. There used to be an abundant oyster population along the coastline, and these were a big part of the fishing and marine heritage of the area. The Wild Oyster project is looking to restore the oyster population through establishing a new oyster reef so that this can contribute to building a healthy marine environment. The reef will provide a habitat for other marine life.  

The Wild Oysters Project can offer an in-school workshop or assembly and/or a follow up site visit to the University pontoon at Sunderland Marina to see the oysters in action as well as explore the biodiversity that the nurseries attract. These experiences are designed around the Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three National Curriculum Science objectives.  

Visits are charity funded so all free of charge to schools. Visits are run by an experienced primary school teacher who is fully DBS cleared. Outdoor first aid training site visit risk assessments are in place. Click here to visit the website contact karen.stewart@groundwork.org.uk to arrange a school visit.  

Campground Waste and Recycling Visitor Education Centre 

The Campground Waste and Recycling Visitor Education Centre delivers a waste hierarchy-related engagement programme providing opportunities for residents across Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Sunderland, to see how their local authority manages the waste that they generate. 

The centre acts as the hub for the delivery of a community and schools' education and engagement programme, which includes a range of waste awareness and reuse/recycling activities with local schools and community groups. These take place both within the Centre itself and through outreach work and activities held within local community settings which can be tailored to fit individual or curriculum requirements.     

Activities offered by the centre include:  

• Local litter picks  
• Assemblies and community talks 
• Food waste workshops 

• Junk modelling and craft sessions  

The above list is not exhaustive, and sessions can be adapted to suit your school and community group objectives. The programme is enhanced by the development of an outdoor classroom area, enabling the introduction of gardening and other environmental activities to help visitors learn about the natural environment. The Centre Coordinator can work on an outreach basis and can arrange trips to local Household Waste Recycling Centres and the Energy from Waste (EfW) facility in Teesside. If you have an activity or project in mind, an event you wish to run, or a group that would benefit from a waste and recycling education session, then please get in touch.  

Laura Farrell-Pronesti 
Waste & Recycling Visitor and Education Centre Coordinator 
Mobile: 07790 592 720.  
For further information visit Campground Visitor & Education Centre - STWWMP | Services for Schools North East 

Coast Project Sunderland 

Sunderland's beautiful coastline is home to many species of rare bird, wildflowers and sea life, which need protection from a variety of threats such as new housing development for the area over the coming years. 

The Sunderland Coast project seeks to protect the landscape and its wildlife by engaging with residents and visitors and encouraging safe and responsible enjoyment of our coastline. 

If your school is interested in learning about Sunderland's coast or you want to get involved in local projects you can enquire through this email address: info@coastproject.org or visit the website to find out more: https://coastproject.org/.  

SeaScapes 

If you are an education setting, would you like to bring your pupils to Sunderland's coast to learn about our special marine environment and how to better look after it? SeaScapes run a range of projects telling the story of our maritime and industrial heritage and sessions can use curriculum angles including numeracy and art.  

For KS3 and KS4, SeaScapes can also offer on-water activities through the Royal Yachting Association. 

To find out more about what Seascapes can offer schools and educational settings, please contact us at https://exploreseascapes.co.uk/contact/ or visit the website to find out more: https://exploreseascapes.co.uk/