Schools & Clubs
Working with youth groups and schools is a priority for us. Find out how you can join in here.
Visit and Learn
We welcome schools and clubs to visit and experience the steyning downland for themselves. Do contact us if you’re looking for a place where young people can learn about nature and get some practical, hands on experience too.
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What we do
Art Projects
Young people often have wonderful creativity and we want to make the most of that! Our decorated entrance gate onto Nightingale Lane was a collaborative project between a local woodworker and students from Steyning Grammar School. Children from local junior schools also built the bug hotels which are now fixed to our Gateway building.
Fundraising
If you have a fundraising idea, whether it’s setting up a cake sale, organising a ‘mufti day’ or running a marathon, you could help us raise vital funds for our conservation work.
Volunteering & Educational visits
Every year, all the Year 7s at Steyning Grammar School join us for a day out on the Downs, getting some practical ‘hands on’ experience in habitat management. But there are plenty of other opportunities for young people of all ages. Join us for educational visits, such as tours of our special habitats and surveys of species groups including butterflies and reptiles. We carry out various volunteering activities right through the year too, and young people are welcome to take part.
Downland Days
Ever year, Steyning Grammar School year 7 students and staff help us to clear fallen ash trees from our Rights of Way. Working with a local woodsman, who makes the area safe beforehand, they are doing a great job for us, and enjoying their day out too! Here’s just some of the feedback:
“The best thing about being up here is the atmosphere and seeing the world around us. It’s just amazing how I’m allowed to be up here!”
“It’s a chance to get away from the screen – and the view is amazing.”
Gallery
Interested?
Are you interested in bringing a group of pupils or young people for a project? Or would you like to join our volunteer youth team? Please do get in contact.
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Our Meeting Spaces
To see more about our outdoor spaces click on the map below:
The Gateway
The gateway building was set up in 2018. And is the main meeting point for the Steyning Downland Scheme. With a small pond, some logs for seats and a fenced off area this is a great place to bring smaller groups.
The Targets
A place full of military history, this space is slowly being restored and will soon become another meeting space. With bespoke fire pit made by Steyning Grammar Pupils and local blacksmith Lee Portwain.
Mountain Biking Area
Set up by local young people and maintained by our Mountain Bike volunteers this formidable track is found in a part of our woodland space.
Wild play Area and Orchard
The wild play area and community orchard is an dog free enclosed space. This space is ideal for small groups.
Flint-barn Fireplace
Hidden in our woodland area is our Flint-barn Fireplace, where we hold our bushcraft sessions. With a large log circle this space is good for medium sized groups.