Through school visits, events and forest school sessions, the team played a vital role in helping people experience wildlife first-hand.

Here are some of the highlights from an inspiring year of learning and engagement.

Inspiring young people through schools 

In 2025 the team worked with schools across the county to bring nature into the classroom and beyond.

• 8,387 children took part in school visits led by the Wilder Learning team
• 133 schools visited our Nature Discovery Centres across Essex
• 1,395 teachers and parents were engaged through school visits, helping extend learning beyond the day itself

These experiences gave young people the chance to explore nature up close, build confidence outdoors, and develop a lasting connection with wildlife.

Forest School and outdoor learning 

Forest school continued being a success in 2025 at providing children with regular opportunities to learn through nature.

• 5,184 forest school interactions took place across Essex
• 11 schools took part in regular forest school-style sessions

Reaching new audiences and communities

The Wilder Learning team reached so many people across Essex in 2025, welcoming new audiences and encouraging first-time participation.

• 37,068 people engaged with the Wilder Learning team during the year
• 8,014 event engagements took place through activities, workshops, and community events
• 36% of participants took part in an activity for the very first time

This growth shows how powerful accessible, welcoming nature-based learning can be in helping people feel confident to get involved.

The success of the Wilder Learning programme in 2025 reflects the dedication of our staff, volunteers, educators, and supporters. Together, we are helping more people than ever discover the benefits of spending time in nature, while inspiring the next generation to care for Essex’s wildlife and wild places. 

Want to connect with nature in the new year? See all the events we have coming up in 2026!

See all our upcoming events