Guided Visits

Guided Visits for schools – Cross curricular days facilitated by our Award-Winning Education Team

We are proud to hold our Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

From STEM education to literacy and history we have something to suit all ages and all learning outcomes. See our FAQ’S for further information.

For information on costings, please click here.

We have a large FREE car park for coaches and cars, and we offer coach drivers a voucher for tea and Tiptree Tea Room.

Some of our guided themed topics:
  • Field to Fork with Beehive Experience – EYFS, KS1 and KS2

    Our Field to Fork day is our most popular themed day, where children learn how their food is produced.

    Schools can now book a Beehive Experience where they will learn why honeybees are so important to farmers, find out how the hive works and the fascinating process of how bees turn nectar into honey. This activity lasts about an hour and carries an additional charge of £2 per child. Children will visit growing crops and learn how nectar from different crops creates different types of honey.

    The day will be adapted to suit the age and needs of the children.

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development and understanding the world.

    KS1 – PSHE, Science, D&T, Maths

    KS2 – PSHE, Science, D&T, Geography, Maths

  • Field to Fork – EYFS, KS1 and KS2

    Have you every wondered where your food comes from?  Explore the farm, our wonderful polytunnel, growing crops and discover what happens during the farming year.

    Learn about nutrition and cook a healthy pizza from scratch to take back to school.

    The day includes a tractor and trailer ride around the farm.

    The perfect choice for topics relating to the environment and climate change.  The day will be adapted to suit the age and needs of the children.

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development and understanding the world.

    KS1 – PSHE, Science, D&T, Maths

    KS2 – PSHE, Science, D&T, Geography, Maths

  • Little Red Hen – EYFS, KS1

    This classic story comes to life for children when they visit Barleylands.  They will look at the wheat growing outside, take a tractor and trailer ride around the farm and spot the animals who DIDN’T help the little red hen!  When we have checked all the animals are fed and happy, we can peek to see if our hens have laid any eggs.

    In our Discovery Centre, children learn more about wheat production and see the grinding process.  The day also includes a cookery workshop where all children will make a tasty bread roll from scratch to take home and share.

    This flexible theme has links with

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development, literacy, understanding the world, maths expressive arts and design.

    KS1 – PSHE, literacy, maths, and D&T

  • Nature Detectives – KYFS, KS1 and KS2

    On a Nature Detective Day, children can explore the world of tiny creatures.  We will take magnifiers into the woodland walk as well as visiting an array of beautiful birds in the aviary, so lots of fresh air and fun outside.    Children will enjoy Julia Donaldson’s wonderful Woolly Bear Caterpillar story and cook delicious butterfly biscuits to take back to school.  There will be time for a tractor and trailer ride around the farm, and a visit to see the animals on the farm.

    EYFS – communications and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, expressive arts and design.

    KS1 – PHSE, science, maths, D&T

    KS2 – PHSE, science, maths,  D&T

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar – EYFS, KS1

    We are used to hungry animals on the Farm, but none as hungry as the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Eric Carl’s classic story comes to life at Barleylands, where children have the opportunity to follow the caterpillar trail, learn about the different foods grown on the farm, and find evidence in our polytunnel that he was DEFINITELY there!  Explore the importance of a healthy balanced diet and eating a rainbow of food (that caterpillar knew what he was doing).  The children will make a layered rainbow salad of fruit and vegetables to take home and enjoy.  There will also be time for a tractor and trailer ride around the farm, and a visit to see the animals on the farm.

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development, literacy, maths, understanding the world.

    KS1 – PHSE and development of social skills, Science, D&T, Literacy and Maths

  • Gingerbread Man Day – EYFS, KS1

    This themed day is an excellent opportunity for children to enjoy a blended curriculum while having fun on the farm.   We link this traditional tale to an exploration of where in the world our food comes from.  Children will develop an understanding of the ingredients used in making gingerbread and explore how and where they are grown.  In the kitchen, children make and bake their own gingerbread man to take home.  Outside, they will meet the farm animals, including the ones who chased the Gingerbread Man and there will also be time for a tractor and trailer ride around the farm.

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social, and emotional development, literacy, maths, understanding the world, expressive arts, and design.

    KS1- PSHE and development of social skills, science, D&T, Geography, Maths and Literacy links.

  • Cow to Cone – EYFS, KS1 and KS2

    Enjoy a day on the farm with lots of fresh air, animal feeding, a tractor and trailer ride, and the most exciting part; make your own ice cream.

    Ask any child where milk comes from and they will invariably take pride in supplying ‘cows’ as the answer, but this trip will enable them to consider other animals which provide us with milk and to discuss the many foods that are derived from this essential product.

    You will work in a group to make your ice cream and learn about the ingredients we need to make this delicious treat.  There will be time to eat it too.

    We can tailor this day to suit different class sizes.  Ice cream flavours depend on the time of year and fruit available.

    EYFS – communications and language, physical development, PSED, understanding the world.

    KS1 – social skills, D&T, Science, Maths

    KS2 – social skills, D&T, Science, Maths.  For KS2 children, this day can be adapted to have more focus on STEM education, exploring how to make ice cream without a freezer. (Additional costs apply).

  • Amazing Kitchen Science – KS1 and KS2

    Children are natural scientists with a never-ending curiosity of find out “what will happen if…”

    Our Amazing Kitchen Science Day allows them to work scientifically, making predictions and fully participating in a range of experiments using everyday farm grown ingredients. Through first hand, practical experience children will use simple equipment to perform exciting tests and they will use their observations to answer questions.

    The science concepts covered can include, identifying materials, properties of materials, solids, liquids, and gases, changing state of matter, reversible and irreversible change.  The day is pitched at an age-appropriate level.

    From cornflour slime to lava lunacy, the day is guaranteed to be messy, noisy and lots and lots of fun.

    This day links to: –

    Y1- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, everyday materials)

    Y2- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, uses of everyday materials)

    Y3-PSHE, Science (working scientifically)

    Y4- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, states of matter)

    Y5- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, properties and changes of materials)

     

  • Edible Science – KS1 and KS2

    Children learn most successfully by ‘doing’ and what better place to ‘do’ science than on the farm.  Our Edible Science Day gives children the opportunity to discover the wonders of milk, explore the methods involved in producing milk and the important role that Dairy Farmers play in the UK.

    The really fun part is churning your own butter and making bread from scratch to take home with you.

    This day links to

    Y1- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, everyday materials)

    Y2- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, uses of everyday materials)

    Y3-PSHE, Science (working scientifically)

    Y4- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, states of matter)

    Y5- PSHE, Science (working scientifically, properties and changes of materials)

    Y6- PSHE, Science (working scientifically)

  • Healthy Lunchbox and Food Miles – KS1 and KS2

    We are what we eat!

    This visit will really get your pupils thinking.  It can be adapted to suit all age groups, and with all our themed days, we will be happy to zone in on specific areas you may be covering in class.

    As well as playing the interactive food miles game, children will enjoy exploring the farm, feeding the animals, and going for a ride on the tractor and trailer.  The Discovery Centre will encourage them to explore food production past and present as well as tracking the air miles involved in our most commonly imported foods.

    In the kitchen, children will prepare a layered salad and bake a fresh bread roll from scratch! Please note, KS1 children will only make a layered salad and not the bread roll as time does not allow.

    KS1 – PSHE, D&T, Geography, Science

    KS2 – PSHE, D&T, Geography, Science

  • Habitats and Food Chains – EYFS, KS1 and KS2

    Here at Barleylands, we are lucky to house the wonderful Imperial Birds of Prey who care for a truly spectacular range of predatory wildlife.  The Imperial staff love to share their knowledge and expertise with the public and they are particularly supportive of our “Habitats and Food Chains” themed day*.  Children can get up close to a wide range of animals as they see the theory of food chains coming to life in front of them.

    You can choose a bird or reptile workshop.

    As well as feathered friends, children will be able to see a wide range of reptiles, exotic animals, and of course the lovely farm animals at Barleylands.

    If you are bringing 60 children or fewer, we can offer a cookery workshop making either owl biscuits or a healthy pizza from scratch depending on the age of the children.

    This flexible day can be arranged to suit the age of your children as well as enhancing your specific science or geography topic.  It is a perfect choice for schools reading Owl Babies by Martin Waddell. KS1 children may prefer our Owl Babies Day.

    *This topic carries an additional £1.00 per child as this includes a session from the Imperial Birds of Prey Team.

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, understanding the world.

    KS1 – PSHE, science, geography, D&T (if cooking)

    KS2 – PSHE, science, geography, D&T (if cooking)

  • Stone Age to Iron Age – KS1 and KS2

    Children will explore our crop tyres and polytunnel as they learn the difference between how we farm in the 21st century compared to when the Celts were farming. They will have fun grinding wheat using a quern and making stone age bread to take back to school.

    Children will also see what might have gone into stone age stew using ingredients that would have been available during Stone Age times. Due to allergies, children will not make their own individual stew, but you are welcome to take a pot back to school if you wish. Using our ‘safe’ arrows and beanbag rocks, children can hunt our woolly mammoth and sabre-toothed tiger as well or create their own cave drawings in the Discovery Centre. They will learn how people began to settle down in one place, growing their food and domesticating animals.

    Schools can choose to enjoy an outside hunting game, hunting for their stone age dinner OR participating in some cave art activities using charcoal.

    This is a busy exciting day which can be adjusted to suit a range of age groups to accommodate specific areas of this vast topic.

    KS1 – PSHE, D&T, History, (develop an awareness of the past)

    KS2 – PSHE, D&T, History (changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age)

  • Rocks and soils – KS2

    The science topic we know many teachers dread!  How to make rocks and soils exciting while avoiding muddy carnage in the classroom.

    Why not let us deal with all of that?  After all, we have rocks and soil galore here at Barleylands, and strange as it might seem we are very passionate about soil!  We help children to develop an understanding of why soil is so important to farmers, and why we, in supporting farmers must respect and value it.

    Our hands on Rocks and Soils Day allows them to touch, smell, squish and generally get down to earth with it as they explore its composition.  They will learn about different types of soil, where in the UK they are most likely to find the different types and the effect this has on how and where we choose to grow crops.

    Of course, without soil, we would have no food!  Children will have the chance to explore seasonal fruit and veg in our polytunnel as well as checking out the crop tyres.  Back in the kitchen they can create an edible soil horizon using sweets and biscuits to help them understand the different layers in soil composition.

    KS2 – PSHE, Science, D&T, Geography.

  • Owl Babies Day – EYFS and KS1

    Did you know we have owls here at Barleylands?   The Classical story Owl Babies is a great way to learn about food chains, habitats, classification, and prediction .  Children will explore our story sack, visit the lovely owls at the Imperial Birds of Prey Academy, and meet many other animals on the farm.  This day can really enhance your specific science or geography topic. And of course, no day would be complete without a cookery workshop. Your children will create delicious owl biscuits from scratch to take home and enjoy. We just can’t guarantee they will be willing to share .

    For an additional £1.00 per child why not have your own workshop facilitated by The Imperial Birds of Prey Team * based here at Barleylands ! *( The Imperial Birds of Prey workshop is suitable for groups of 60 or below )

     

    EYFS – communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, understanding the world.

    KS1 – PSHE, science, geography, D&T

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