Duckpool

The Duckpool Guardianship links Kilkhampton Junior and Infants School and Duckpool – a Trust site on the Cornish coast. The children work with the wardens responsible for this area of Cornish coast between Duckpool and Sandymouth.

It is an annual programme that includes the whole school and allows the children to learn more about the environment. It not only supports the work of the National Trust wardens but also enhances the school's programme of study. So far, activities have spanned the Curriculum, including tree planting, mapping a river, organising and analysing visitor surveys, and beach clean ups.

Folders of work are produced, including poems, write ups recording new-found skills and knowledge, artwork and photographs. The school is sent a letter and certificate from the warden thanking them for their help after each visit.

Clumber Park

This Guardianship links Worksop Priory School and Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire.

After a pilot year several years ago with one class, the whole school, including the nursery are now involved. Each pupil now builds on their Guardianship work as they move up through the school. Activities from the scheme are even written up in the schools newsletter, meaning the wider school community also gets involved.

This followed a special teacher's day, which was held at Clumber to promote the idea to the school staff and governors. Now a child who attends nursery at the school can visit the property at least nine times in their primary life.

Activities work across the whole curriculum, from photography to data collection, the Victorians to habitats and life cycles, art and sculpture to literacy and numeracy. These activities vary from year to year, being evaluated and adapted annually.

The school has used their visits to inspire displays including written work, illustrations, environmental sculptures and photographs around the school buildings. The scheme is regularly mentioned in the school's newsletters produced for parents, governors' reports and the annual prospectus for new parents.

This long running scheme achieves its continued success from the enthusiasm and support from both the school and the National Trust staff involved. Also Clumber's close proximity to the school means parents use Clumber with their children outside school hours. Many children make a point of visiting and saying hello to Trust staff and volunteers they have met on their visits.