School Visits

We have a number of years’ experience hosting both Primary and Secondary school trips here at Goodheart Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Spanning 92 beautiful acres and home to over 300 rescued animals, our sanctuary offers a unique learning experience in an engaging and memorable setting.

Our Learning Environment

Indoor Classroom

All visits to Goodheart start with a welcome chat in our purpose-built Indoor Classroom. We might start with a PowerPoint presentation all about our charity and the work we do, or kickstart your visit with an ice-breaker activity.

Outdoor Education Area

In addition to our indoor space, we also have a dedicated Outdoor Education Area, complete with organic vegetable beds, habitat area and fire pit!

Nature Trail

We have recently developed a nature trail around the site which aims to educate and inform visitors of the local important species we have on our doorstep and what we can do to help protect them.

NEW: Goodheart launches Sustainable Schools Initiative

Following the successfully application for a community grant, we can now host primary school and secondary school trips based on topics such as climate change and food security.

What's included

Every trip to Goodheart will be tailored to the age group of the children attending and your learning objectives, however most trips include a guided tour of our sanctuary site, where pupils can meet and interact with our residents. This is usually followed by an educational workshop tailored to your class’ needs. This might be exploring themes of sustainability, climate change, biodiversity or the ethics of animal agriculture.

To enquire about pricing, availability, and to book your school trip now, email our Visitor & Education Manager Abby via email at abby@goodheart.org.uk

School Trip Frequently Asked Questions

What facilities are available at Goodheart?

Toilets

We have two (single occupancy) toilets available for public use. One is on the ground floor and another is on the first floor of our indoor classroom. Please note that, regretfully, neither of these are currently wheelchair accessible and there are no baby changing facilities at present. However, we do have plans to build a new and accessible toilet block and baby changing facility soon, so watch this space!

Handwashing

It’s really important to wash your hands with hot soapy water after touching any of our animals. We have two (single occupancy) bathrooms available for you and your students to wash your hands – one is located on the ground and the other is located on the first floor of our indoor classroom.

We do have plans to build a more accessible handwashing trough soon, so watch this space!

Picnic area

Feel free to enjoy your packed lunch in our new Outdoor Education Area next to our friendly ponies! We have space for 22 visitors on our open-air picnic benches, or there’s our covered outdoor classroom which is suitable for seating up to 30 people. During colder months, our heated indoor classroom is also available for use.

Both our indoor and outdoor classrooms are fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Can pupils explore the sanctuary on their own?

No – all of our field trips are led and supervised by our Visitor & Education Manager at all times. This means that we can ensure quality, safe interactions with our animals, as well as giving you an enriching and personal experience.

How many students can attend?

We have found that students get a much better experience when in smaller groups. For this reason, we would recommend a maximum group size of 10-15 students. This ensures a personal and engaging experience for all involved and lots of hands-on time with the animals for your students.

Who leads the visit?

Our trips are led by our Visitor & Education Manager but we ask teachers and supporting staff to stay in the area to offer additional support for those students who may need it.

Do you serve hot food on site?

No – we ask all visitors to bring their own cold packed lunch which they can enjoy in one of our open air or covered seating areas. We do not offer public access to microwaves or ovens. We do offer complimentary hot and cold drinks, as well as a few cheeky biscuits, during your visit.

Where can we store coats and bags?

You can leave your belongings in our indoor classroom for the duration of your visit. Please note that this classroom will not be locked, so you may wish to leave valuable items at home or in your vehicle.