Englefield Estate welcomes over 1,500 schoolchildren at annual school days event

More than 1,500 school pupils visited Englefield Estate to learn about topics such as gamekeeping, beekeeping, bushcraft and renewable energy as part of the estate’s annual schools days event.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this year’s schools days event took place on Wednesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 16, and had children from 34 Berkshire primary schools enjoy activities focused on farming, forestry and horticulture.

The countryside days for schools began in 1997 after the estate wanted to give young children in the area a positive experience of the countryside and a chance to see the wide range of rural activities that take place there.

Rosie Hayward, a teacher from Alexander First School in Windsor, said her pupils called it the best school trip ever.

“We had an amazing day and can’t wait to come back next year. It was so well organised,” she said.

Twenty-five years since the event began, Englefield Estate has grown to invite more schoolchildren, focus more on sustainability, and have more ties to the national curriculum.

Education and environment officer at Englefield Estate Liz Mattison said: “It was wonderful to celebrate 25 years of school days and I hope there will be many more years ahead.

“All the children were really attentive, engaged and polite.

“You can see in their faces that there is a real passion to learn about the countryside.”

Dr Mattison was also delighted to hear that many of the schools that attended said it was the best edition of the event ever and how all the youngsters present found it very enjoyable.

Across both days, children took part in a whole host of different outdoor endeavours in the grounds of Englefield House, as well as in the deer park and in the village that are all within the 14,000 acre estate.

These activities covered important topics such as farming, habitats and wildlife, community, health and wellbeing, renewable energy, water quality and history.

The estate partnered with a number of organisations to deliver the schools days event. These included Thames Water, Action for the River Kennet, Butterfly Conservation and the National Gamekeepers Organisation Educational Trust.

Dr Mattison also said: “It is wonderful how, each year, we are able to call on such a wealth of knowledge and expertise to give the children a truly engaging experience.

“I cannot thank them all enough for their support.”