Ranger Led Activities - Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Ranger Led Activities
Pond Dipping, Nature Discovery Trails and Wildlife Orienteering
For Haysden Country Park and
Leybourne Lakes Country Park

For further information please contact:
Leisure Services, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Gibson Building, Gibson Drive,
Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4LZ.
Tel. 01732 876166
Email: leisure.services@tmbc.gov.uk
Web Site: www.tmbc.gov.uk
Copyright © TMBC 2011
First Revision 2011

The Outdoors is a stimulating and challenging environment, inspiring
interest and curiosity. It develops independence in children and
benefits their health, teamwork and interaction skills.
Leybourne Lakes Country Park and
Haysden Country Park provide a wealth
of inspiration for children. This pack
guides the teacher or leader and
children to experience what is available
to enquiring and inquisitive minds.
Our Feedback
We welcome any group to
experience and learn from the
wealth of wildlife and nature we
have to offer in either of
Tonbridge & Malling Borough
Council’s owned and managed
Green Flag Award Country Parks.
“The children really enjoyed all of the activities; booking was easy and all equipment,
worksheets and risk assessments were provided” Brookfield Junior School, Larkfield
“A very comprehensive programme of events enjoyed by all the children”
St Katherine’s School, Snodland
“Very patient and helpful rangers, all the children enjoyed catching and identifying the
pond creatures”
Larkfield Beavers
“All staff/rangers were extremely helpful, excellent with the children and offered age
appropriate activities. A great day was had by all. Thank you”
Bligh Children’s Centre, Strood

A bit about the Country Parks...
For more information about Haysden Country Park visit
www.tmbc.gov.uk/HCP
Haysden Country Park and Leybourne
Lakes Country Park are great places to
visit and learn about the wonderful
world around you. Both Country
Parks have an abundance of wildlife,
both designated as Local Wildlife
Sites, with Haysden Country Park also
being a Local Nature Reserve. The
Country Park’s also offer coach
parking, toilet facilities and picnic
areas.
For more information about Leybourne Lakes Country Park visit
www.tmbc.gov.uk/LLCP
Both Country Parks offer a selection of Ranger Led Activities, including Pond
Dipping, Nature Discovery Trails and Wildlife Orienteering. This pack also
suggests independent activities that you can do while visiting the Country
Parks to bring the classroom outside.
Ranger Led Activities offer strong
national curriculum links with
science, geography, maths and
P.E.
Key Stage One: Life Processes and Living Things
(Humans and other animals can produce offspring and
these offspring grow into adults and find out about
plants and animals in the local environment)
Geography (Park survey of visitors and their impact
and map reading) Physical Education (Outdoor and
adventurous training activities) Science (Scientific
enquiry and collecting information) Mathematics
(Handling data)
Key Stage Two: Life Processes and Living Things (How
animals in two different habitats are suited to their environment and how locally occurring animals and plants can be
identified and assigned to groups, by making and using keys) Physical Education (Outdoor and adventurous activities, working
as a team to meet a challenge).

Ranger Led Activities
Ranger Led Activities allow children to observe and engage in a new
environment. These activities are organised and run by our knowledgeable
Haysden and Leybourne Lakes Country Park Rangers with the assistance of
Medway Valley Countryside Partnership and Park volunteers. All equipment is
also provided.
Pond Dipping
With nets, trays, magnifying glasses
and ID charts in hand we discover the
wide array of species what live in the
Park’s ponds. The pond dipping takes
place on a purpose built platform and
is fully supervised at all times!
Nature Discovery Trail
There is nothing more exciting than
discovering what lives around you. This
trail follows the Park’s many habitats
including ponds and lakes, woodland,
grassland and the stream/river that runs
through the Park.
Wildlife Orienteering
This is a great activity for children to learn
while having fun and running off steam! The
orienteering markers are all pictures of
wildlife species that can be found in the Park.
The orienteering takes place on a large but
open grassland allowing good views to all
areas. This encourages children to explore
while providing a safe environment to learn.

Essential Information
Ranger Led Activities:
Duration:
Capacity per activity:
Cost per activity:
Pond Dipping, Nature Discovery Trail and Wildlife
Orienteering
Each activity lasts one hour
20 children plus the appropriate number of staff to
children ratio
£41.25 for schools and organisations inside the
Tonbridge & Malling Borough
£55.00 for schools and organisations outside the
Tonbridge & Malling Borough
Discounts:
Age range:
Schools & organisations:
Day and evening:
Time of year:
Health & Safety:
Have three or more activities on one day and get a
20% discount on the cost
We can tailor our activities for children aged from
2-14 years old
We have a whole range of schools and
organisations enjoy our ranger led activities
including primary schools, youth groups like
Scouts and Cubs, Brownies and Rainbows, preschools
and nursery groups plus many more. The
activities are also great for birthday parties.
Ranger Led Activities are available during week
days and early evening, subject to staff availability.
Any time between April and October is ideal for
these activities, although unfortunately we can not
guarantee the weather at any time of year!
Risk Assessments for all Ranger Led Activities are
completed by the Ranger Team. If you intend to
carry out other activities independently while at

the Country Park you will need to complete a Risk
Assessment for these. An example Risk
Assessment is provided where you can just add
your identified hazards and actions. You will also
need to supply a copy of your organisation’s public
liability / indemnity insurance. All staff and
volunteers are CRB checked.
Booking:
Firstly check availability and chat through your
requirements with the Country Park staff (see
below) and then complete the booking form.
Country Park contacts: Haysden Country Park: 01732 876172
Leybourne Lakes Country Park: 01634 243397
Email: leisure.services@tmbc.gov.uk
Example timetables:
School visit:
Cub visit:
10am to
11am
11am to
11.15am
11.15am to
12.15pm
12.15pm
to 1pm
1pm to 2pm
6pm to
7pm
7pm to
8pm
Dragonflies
(Group A)
Pond Dipping Break Nature Trail Lunch Orienteering
Dragonflies
(Group A)
Nature Trail
Pond
Dipping
Grasshoppers
(Group B)
Orienteering Break Pond Dipping Lunch Nature Trail
Grasshoppers
(Group B)
Pond
Dipping
Nature Trail
Snakes
(Group C)
Nature Trail Break Orienteering Lunch Pond Dipping
Cancellation:
If for any reason you need to cancel your
activities, please provide a minimum of 48 hours
notice prior to your activities, we will then pay you
a full refund. All cancellations within 48 hours
notice of the activity start time may be subject to
a charge, to cover any costs incurred. All activities
started will be subject to the full fee. The Council
reserve the right to cancel any activities at any
time if it deemed unsafe to start or continue an
activity.

Bringing the classroom outside…
We’ve put together a few ideas for your visit to
the Country Parks, for you to use
independently. These are ideal as an added
extra to any Ranger Led Activities you decide to
do but are also great if you want to visit either
of the Parks for a couple of hours.
Science
1. Food Chains and Food Webs – Using food chain / food web cards to recognise the
links between plants and animals in a habitat. Simple example food chains that
would be on the site e.g. Grass– rabbit – fox, will also bring the theory alive.
2. What plant lives where? –
Identifying that all plants
and animals have favoured
locations. For example tree
species such as willow and
alder prefer wetter areas
such as near lakes, rivers or
streams.
3. Wildlife Identification –
Use the wetland and
woodland bird species key
to identify some of the
regular Park species.
4. Role of a plant – A good opportunity to have a hands on
approach to the parts of a flower and their functions,
the role of the leaves and roots as well as looking at the
plant’s life cycle and seed dispersal and germination
process. The effect of light, air, water, temperature and
seasonality on a plant can also be investigated.

Geography
1. Lake Investigations – This may include
a walk around a small lake, looking at
physical processes such as erosion,
draw a plan of the lake and identify its
key features such as lake platforms and
different areas of natural vegetation.
2. Park Survey – Create and carry out a
survey of the Park’s visitors. This will
identify the views of the different visitor groups that use the Park. This can be
followed up by analysing the evidence and making conclusions.
History
1. Investigate how the site has changed over the last 50 years. Timeline of the site’s
history. The Country Park’s Management Plans at www.tmbc.gov.uk will give more
information on the site’s history.
Art & Design
PHSE
1. Draw an animal that has interested you on your visit – it might be a swan or a
coot, maybe it’s a dragonfly or a snake. This can followed up by making models of a
couple of the class’s favourite animals.
2. Sketch the trees and plants around
with first-hand observations. This
could involve using a limited number
of colours and improving sketchbook
work. This sketch work could be
followed up with paintings in an
artist’s style.
3. Landscape drawing to encourage
children to look at their surroundings.
This could be used to expand prior
knowledge of using a range of tools
and techniques.
1. A great opportunity for children to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
including the need for regular exercise.

EXAMPLE
This risk assessment is an example for you to add your own identified hazards and control
measures. You will need to submit this risk assessment with your additions or your own
risk assessment for any independent activities you do at the Country Parks.
School / Youth Activities
in open spaces and parks
AREA: Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Country Parks - Leybourne Lakes
Country Park and Haysden Country Park.
Date:
Operations covered by this assessment:
• General use of the open spaces and parks by school groups / youth organisation.
• Litter awareness.
• Wildlife observation.
Max number of people exposed: All of the group including children, teachers/leaders and
adults
Significant hazards identified:
Slips, trips & falls – Slipping on slippery surface due to wet or icy conditions; tripping on uneven
ground on designated and undesignated paths; falling obstacles.
Waterside activities – Potential of drowning; collapse of the lake’s edge.
Waterborne viruses and diseases – Exposed cuts, splashing water, poor hygiene (entering through
mouth whilst eating due to not washing hands), leading to viruses such as Leptospirosis (Weils
disease) and diseases such as Toxicariasis and Tetanus.
Adverse Weather Conditions – Dehydration, heat stroke and exhaustion in summer; hypothermia,
lightning strike and flying objects due to high winds.
Falling Branches from Trees – branches overhanging paths falling due to high winds.
Litter Awareness – Possible hazards, sharp objects and needles and poisons and dog faeces.
Mini-beast observation – Contact with poisonous or stinging plants.
Additional hazards identified:

Actions to reduce risk:
• Teacher/leader to provide / explain the attached safety sheet ‘things to remember’ to all young
people on the activity, which gives water safety and hygiene guidance.
• A teacher/leader to be trained in first aid and to carry first aid kit.
• Ensure the group has the correct number of adults to children ratio for the age range.
• The school doctor should be consulted if any children report any unusual symptoms
• Make sure children are wearing suitable footwear and are aware of the ground conditions.
• They are not to overstretch or play when carrying out the activity due to the proximity of the
deep water.
• Keep site and equipment tidy. Check for loose overhanging branches and remove as required.
• Move carefully around the area.
• Instruct children to wash hands before eating and drinking after their activities.
• Do not enter the water, or overstretch if working at the water’s edge.
• Work in pairs if by the waters edge.
• Mini-Beast Observation: Make site users aware of plants to avoid.
Additional Actions to reduce risk:
Contact Details
• Contact Number when visiting the Country Park:
• Emergency Contact Number:
Further actions required
Risk assessment passed to Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for their approval as the land owner.
Assessment of residual risk
While the risk cannot be eliminated completely, the risk is as low as reasonably practicable.
Drawn up by:
Checked by: (TMBC)
Signature:
Date:

KEEP YOUR EYES
AND EARS OPEN
FOR DANGER
AROUND WATER
STAY IN YOUR GROUPS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU
ARE CLOSE TO THE
WATER
DON’T SPLASH
WATER AT
OTHER PEOPLE
OR PUSH THEM
OVER
DON’T PUT
YOUR HANDS
NEAR YOUR
MOUTH.
THINGS TO
REMEMBER WHEN
YOU ARE AT THE
COUNTRY PARK
DON’T GO IN
THE WATER
WASH YOUR HANDS
BEFORE EATING ANY
FOOD
MAKE SURE ALL CUTS
ARE COVERED UP WITH
A WATERPROOF
PLASTER

Booking Form
Before filling in the form below, please contact the Rangers’ Office on 01634 243397 (Leybourne Lakes)
or 01732 876172 (Haysden), or email leisure.services@tmbc.gov.uk for an informal chat about your
requirements and to check availability. For all visits a copy of the school’s / organisation’s public
indemnity insurance and any required risk assessments must be supplied with the booking form.
School / Organisation Name
Address
Telephone Number
Contact Name(s)
Email Address
Proposed Country Park
Proposed Date of Activity
Proposed Times at Park
Total number of Children
Total Number of Staff / Adults
I have enclosed a copy of the school’s / organisation’s Public Indemnity Insurance
I have enclosed a cheque, payable to ‘Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’
I would like to be invoiced for the activities (Schools only)
I have received photo consent from the parent/guardians of all the children attending
and I am happy for photos to be taken and used for future TMBC publications
Activity Details
Total
£
Please state any independent activities you will be carrying out, during your visit to the Country Park
Please return the Booking Form, cheque and relevant paperwork to: Leisure Services, Tonbridge &
Malling Borough Council, Gibson Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4LZ.
Your personal information will be held and used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The Council will not
disclose such information to any unauthorised person or body but where appropriate will use such information in carrying
out its various functions and services. The Council may also use this data in connection with prevention or deduction of
fraud or other crime.