Park Ranger Led Experiences
Our knowledgable Park Ranger team facilitate a number of specialist workshops for schools during the year. Availability for this exciting opportunity is strictly limited and includes: Pond Dipping (pictured below), Mini-Beast Hunts and Deer Walks.
Pond Dipping / Mini Beast Hunt
KS2 & KS3
- Max 40 children
- Suitable for Key Stage 2 and 3
- Duration: Full or Half Days
- Available Tuesday and Wednesday from September to October and March to July
Focusing on life cycles and predator/prey relationships, children are encouraged to learn through games and exploration. Once on the parkland they will become Pond Dippers and Mini Beast Hunters.
Once the fundamentals of safe pond dipping have been explained, the Pond Dippers will learn about water as an eco-system catching “beasts” (pond-life) and putting them into trays ready for identification.Through the ‘camouflage game’, children on the Mini-Beast hunt will learn why camouflage is needed in predator/prey relationships before they hunt for insects under logs and stones for use in a discussion on life cycles and inter-relationships.
Deer Walk
KS2 & KS3
- Max 12 Children per group, 4 groups for full day, 2 groups for ½ day (60 children & adults or 56 + 2 wheelchairs, capacity)
- Suitable for Key Stage 2 and 3
- Duration: Full or Half Days
- Available Tuesday and Wednesday from September to October and March to July
Tatton’s deer herds have played an important part in shaping the landscape since their introduction in the 1290s. The Deer Walk teaches groups how to track deer and identify signs of their presence through the deer prints, droppings and tree damage. Children will be taught the appropriate way to approach the deer and will be able to look at and handle sets of antlers and deer skins. Discussions can also focus on deer management, their ratios, numbers and winter feeding programme. The Deer Walk can be opened out into a more general look at Tatton’s natural history and the impact that both deer and man have on the parkland environment and the shaping of the landscape.