Education in the Environment at Beale Park offer a flexible package of study programmes for primary and secondary schools designed to provide students with exciting practical experience, as well as a better understanding of the physical world around them. Facilities include a well resourced classroom with specialist field study equipment and tailored courses delivered by a team of experienced teachers with extensive knowledge of the local environment. Additionally there are many other activities for parents and young children throughout the year but, due to their popularity, they get booked up early.

The Centre itself has an enviable location on the banks of the River Thames near Pangbourne and can offer a "complete experience". Besides its bird sanctuary of native and exotic species, water meadows, woodland, large reed beds and an organic farm lie within its 400 hectares. Follow the trail around Church Farm and learn at first hand how organic farming methods are important in preserving and sustaining valuable wildlife habitats such as the flower meadows. No need to book first as there's free access.

Visit now at www.bealepark.co.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead offer a FREE Waste Education session and a range of interactive games which are linked to the National Curriculum. These are aimed at raising awareness of waste issues and the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle), for schools and community groups.

Waste sessions are delivered by the Council’s Waste Awareness officer and can last from 20 mins to 1 hour. They are tailored for different ages and are FREE of charge.

A typical session will consist of the following but is dependent upon how much time is available.

· Slide show looking at what happens to our waste within RBWM.
· A short DVD indicating how recycled items are separated.
· Interactive games.
· Question and answer session

For further information on waste sessions please contact: Waste Awareness Officer, The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, York House, Sheet Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1DD.  Tel: 01628 683682 

ManagEnergy is an initiative of the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, which aims to support the work of actors working on energy efficiency and renewable energies at the local and regional level. As part of its activities it has created the ManagEnergy KidsCorner which has three separate parts: a site for 7-11 year olds, a site for 12-16 year olds and a site containing teaching resources. You can access all three parts from:  http://learn-energy.net/education/  or contact Katy Hall, e-mail data@managenergy.net, tel: 01635 569787

Groundwork Thames Valley's partnerships with companies Esso and UK Waste have enabled schoolchildren to learn about important local and global issues. Young Energy Savers shows children how energy is used and how it can be used efficiently at school and in the home whilst the WasteSavers project encourages the study of waste issues. Contact: Isabel King, Business Manager - Sutainable Development, Groundwork TV, Tel: 01895 832662

CREATE, the Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy, provide information on energy efficiency for schools including grants. Visit their website at www.create.org.uk.

Also worth a visit is www.eco-schools.org.uk

West Berkshire Sustainable Technology Group disseminate information, education and enablement of domestic and small business users of renewable technology. They are involved in promoting the Berkshire Solar Clubs and development of organic growing and food technology. Contact: Barry Flisher Tel: 01488 72291

The Pang Valley Countryside Project offers environmental education in partnership with the John Simmonds Trust, based at Rushall Farm. Contact the Project's Education Officer, Colin Esrich for full details. Tel: 0118 974 5196

Learning to live as though we mean to stay.

Visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/ecolfs_index.htm to find out how the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is working to encourage learning towards a sustainable future.

www.sustainable-greenham.org is a free, web-based resource using the restoration of the world-famous Greenham Common airbase to teach primary and secondary curriculum-related subjects.  It tells the amazing story of the regeneration of Greenham Common following the removal of cruise missiles and the departure of the American Airforce in the early nineties.

Braywick Nature Centre in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Dinton Pastures Country Park in Wokingham District

The Look Out Nature Discovery Centre in Bracknell Forest District

Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre in West Berkshire

The Garden Organic Network for Schools website www.schoolsorganic.net currently has over 100 member schools all over the country, from Inverness in the north, to Devon in the south. Here students and teachers can find information, advice and resources to help them garden using organic methods in school grounds. Whether you're just starting or have an established school garden, this is the site to visit.

Flower Farms near Hungerford run half-day workshops in restoring wild flowers to gardens and countryside, propagation of wild flowers as well as full-day workshops on hedge laying and tree and shrub planting and pruning. To find out more phone 01672 870782 for a brochure and order form for wide range of seeds of native plants or see website www.charlesflower-wildflowers.co.uk

Herbiseed, based at Twyford, are producers of wild plants, weeds, pharmaceutical plants and other unusual species from around the world. They also offer technical advice and other related services. Full information at www.herbiseed.com

In 1999 four European wolves were born at the UK Wolf Centre in Berkshire, the first to be born in this country for over 700 years. The Trust aims to educate the public about the grey wolf, now reduced to only a very few places in Europe, through opportunities to help in their conservation in the wild and interact with them at the centre. The Trust runs an educational programme and visit schools and local shows. To find out more contact the Shows Co-ordinator at: UK Wolf Centre, Butlers Farm, Beenham, Reading, Berks RG7 5NT. Tel: 0118 971 3330

Waltham Place Organic Farm, near Maidenhead

Elm Farm Research Centre, West Berkshire

Rushall Manor Farm, near Reading

Sheepdrove Organic Farm, West Berkshire

More information on visiting organic farms in West Berkshire see http://www.northwessexdowns.org.uk/education

Groundwork Thames Valley organise visits for schoolchildren through its Farmlink project. Tel: 01895 832662

WWF's Education Department has been developed over 17 years and now provides a wide range of teaching and learning materials for schools. The resources available help teachers to deliver the curriculum, address key skills and help young people to develop greater understanding of environmental issues. The WWF dedicated web-site for teachers brings together the latest information on environmental education with interactive features such as Internet debates and on-line resource material. More information on www.wwf.org.uk or phone Education Department on 01483 426444 for a copy of the latest Education Catalogue.