Have the children in your school ever experienced growing their own vegetables... building a bonfire... harvesting and cooking their lunch on the fire... baking bread... pressing apples... getting muddy whilst working on the land... working in a woodland classroom or making charcoal...? These are just a few activities your school could be taking part in as part of the national curriculum.

“That was the best day I ever had at school.” Pupil

“This was a truly magical day. The children’s imaginations were fired up which made their learning so much easier.” Sarah Evans, Head Teacher, Doddiscombsleigh Primary School

Embercombe is a fifty acre smallholding situated in the Teign Valley, seven miles from Exeter. It comprises twenty acres of broadleaf woodland, beautiful, south facing meadows, an extensive organic vegetable garden, orchards and a wildlife lake. The abundant wildlife includes several endangered species such as the rare Fritillary butterfly and dormice. In the grounds we have:

• A large indoor conference room/workshop

• A dining room and kitchen

• Showers and toilets

• A woodland classroom

• Two yurt villages accommodating up to 60 people

Visits can take place seasonally over a year to give children the opportunity to experience a full annual cycle in the woods, farm and garden or we offer residentials of 4-10 days duration in Wildcraft, Experiential Science and Practical Skills.

See the action packed videos on our website!

We work closely with the school to ensure the content of the visit integrates into the curriculum and so that preparatory and follow up work can be carried out. We provide home produced and cooked meals involving the children in the process as much as possible. Activities are seasonal and vary depending on the weather and needs of the farm, the woods and the garden. Embercombe's diverse landscape provides a variety of learning opportunities for a wide range of subjects, for pupils from 5-18.

Our approach is experiential, with learning drawn from the pupils participation in activity and the experience regularly reviewed and discussed.

Educational Objectives

• To give practical outdoor experience

• To learn new skills through hands on activities

• To encourage healthy eating and living (Food for Life)

• To learn about sustainability

• To developing the child's imagination through creative activities

• To increase self confidence, social and interpersonal skills

• To encourage cooperation and respect through group activities

• To encourage respect for nature

• To increase knowledge of the natural world

Key information

• Key Stages 1-5
• Highly experienced staff, all CRB checked
• Residential or day visit
• Wide range of activities
• Outreach activity visits to schools