School visits for Key Stage 1 children

If you’re booking a guided visit, the itinerary for your day will include:

• Arrival at 10am. One of our educators will meet your school party in the coach park and walk with you to our classroom space. Children can leave their lunch bags here.
• Guided trek. Our DBS-checked education team are experienced outdoor educators. They’ll lead your choice of guided trek. Each of our available treks is carefully tailored to Key Stage 1 children.
• Lunch break. This will take place in our classroom space, the Coach House. This is situated in the gardens, close to the toilets. The Coach House can accommodate two classes and chairs will be provided. You can also picnic on the lawns if preferred.
• Afternoon activities. You might like to bring your own activities such as playground/parachute games for after lunch. Some school groups do artwork or photography. Our Education team can provide a wildlife trail sheet that you may wish to follow - this takes about an hour. Please note, no ball games are allowed. This is to protect our plants.
• Depart by 4.30pm. Your school party are welcome to explore our gardens up until 4.30pm.

Unguided school visits can take place between 10am and 4.30pm.

Although there are no organised activities for unguided visits, there are 64 acres of Ness Botanic Gardens, with accessible paths, you can explore during the visit. A map will be emailed when booking.

The habitats and gardens at Ness include a wildflower meadow, pine wood, deciduous wood, water gardens, rock garden, Mediterranean garden, vegetable garden, permaculture garden, weather station field with solar array, and a small alpine glasshouse. 

You are plant hunters who will travel 'the world' to seek out amazing plants around Ness. Did you know that some of our common garden plants originally came from other countries? How did these plants get to Britain? Along the way you will learn about plant structure and identify common wild and garden plants including deciduous and coniferous trees as well as bulbs and flowers.

This trek, of up to 1.5 hours, can include a pond dip or mini-beast hunt.

Become zoologists on a safari and look out for animals including invertebrates, mammals, birds, fish amphibians and reptiles. Through observations and games, you will find out about herbivores, carnivores and omnivores as well as their place in the wider food chain.

This trek, of up to 1.5 hours, is embellished when a pond dip or mini-beast hunt is opted for.

This trek helps children think about what plants need to be able to grow. Sow seeds with us to take back to school to nurture. Discover different seeds, flowers, fruit and vegetables by touring round and the vegetable garden to consider healthy eating. Find out about the importance of composting and meet the rocket compost machine and think about waste.

This trek lasts up to 1.5 hours and can be tailored to your class story or topic.

Become weather presenters on a mission to spot weather features. Look out for natural seasonal indicators – plants and animals - around the gardens that tell you spring, summer, autumn or winter have arrived. Find the Ness weather station, solar panel field  and the incredible view of North Wales.

This trek, of up to 1.5 hours, can include a pond dip or mini-beast hunt.