Learning outdoors

Land is our classroom. Whether unearthing minibeasts or training for an apprenticeship, whether on a farm or in an urban green space, outdoor learning opens a new world for people of all ages. Come and learn, explore, and grow outdoors.

Ernest Cook Trust -

Down-to-earth learning for all walks of life. Come and learn, explore and grow outdoors.

Outdoor learning

We are an educational charity grounded in the land, and we work with schools, partners and communities to cultivate deep-rooted connections with the land through outdoor learning and experiences in nature.

Join us outdoors

Land-based skills

We know that learning on the land can sow seeds for a lifelong connection to the land – and for some, the skills that they learn can lead to a new career with mud on your boots and fresh air in your lungs.

Unearth a new skill

Youth empowerment

We are an organisation for young people and with young people, and we want to support them to cultivate an enriched society. One that values both the pastoral and the practical, and is led by the generations of tomorrow.

Find out more

Our impact

Unearth all the extraordinary work we deliver and fund, with our brilliant partners, up and down the country.

Farms For City Children (Gloucestershire)

Farms For City Children (Pembrokeshire)

The Shallowford Trust

Ufton Court

Magdalen Farm

Lambourne End Centre

Jamie’s Farm (Monmouth)

Jamie’s Farm (Lewes)

Jamie’s Farm (Hereford)

Jamie’s Farm (Bath)

Countryside Education Trust

Bore Place

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Wessex Rivers Trust

The Junction Foundation

Take A Part

SOS-UK

Somerset Wildlife Trust

RSPB

Ocean Conservation Trust

Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Morecambe Bay Partnership

Mersey Rivers Trust

Lancashire Wildlife Trust

Kent Wildlife Trust

Groundwork – Yorkshire

Groundwork – South

Groundwork – NE and Cumbria

Global Link

Cumbria Development Education Centre

Child Dynamix

Canal and Rivers Trust

Action for Conservation

Wild Garsdale Pike

West Cumbria Rivers Trust

The Boathouse Youth

Susan’s Farm CIO

IMO Charity

Headspace

Cumbria Development Education Centre

Creative Sustainability CIC

Bendrigg Trust

The Country Trust (Leics)

Lancashire Youth Challenge

Riversmeet Community Co-op Ltd

Newground Together 

LEAF (Cumbria) 

Burnley Leisure & Culture

Windmill Hill City Farm

Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Avon Needs Trees

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming)

Tewkesbury Nature Reserve

Severn Rivers Trust

The Birch Collective

Cotswold Conservation Board

Avon Wildlife Trust

Watchtree Nature Reserve

ParkView4U

LESS Lancaster District

Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Creative Sustainability

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust

The Edward Barnsley Educational Trust

Small Woods

The Smallpeice Trust

South downs National Park Trust

KindleWoods CIC

Future Roots

Earth Trust

CPRE

Bore Place

Gore Farm

Chatsworth

Lowther Castle

Forest of Bowland National Landscape

Low Beckside Farm Outdoor Learning Site

Lowther Outdoor Learning Site

Fairford Outdoor Learning Sites

Gore Farm Outdoor Learning Site

Redwood Outdoor Learning Centre

Low Beckside Farm

The Ernest Cook Trust Trent Estate

The Ernest Cook Trust Slimbridge Estate

The Ernest Cook Trust Barnsley Village Estate (Home Estates)

The Ernest Cook Trust Filkins Estate (Home Estates)

The Ernest Cook Trust Hatherop Estate (Home Estates)

The Ernest Cook Trust Fairford Park Estate (Home Estates)

The Ernest Cook Trust Hartwell Estate

The Ernest Cook Trust Little Dalby Estate

Learn more about our land and work

None of our work would be possible without our partners, funded by our land management and stewardship across 6 counties. There’s a lot to unearth, so come and have a dig around through our latest learnings…

Dig into our land and learning

I am going to ensure we have a weekly slot to continue our Outdoor Learning as it was quite amazing how well they treated each other, and how much more willing they were to learn when the session was outdoors and very practical

Teacher, woodland session