North York Moors National Park
 

Learning Zone

Essential information for self guided groups

 

These notes are designed to help group leaders get the most out of a visit and to minimise negative impacts and maximise positive impacts on the environment, local communities and other visitors.

Check list for Planning your Visit

Find out as much as you can about the area

The following web pages may help:

Visit the site yourself to check out the following:

  • Parking and nearest toilets;
  • Public rights of way and any access limitations;
  • Timings appropriate to the capabilities of your group;
  • Bad weather alternatives;
  • Tide times for coastal activities (tide tables available from local shops or Whitby Harbour Master's Office tel:01947 602354);
  • Mobile phone reception (patchy in some areas) / location of public telephones;
  • How to get help in the event of injuries, accidents, broken down vehicles etc.

Carry out a risk assessment

Groups should follow the advice of their Local Education Authority or organisation to do this. The National Park Education Service carries out risk assessments for all the activities it provides. Contact us if you would like us to explain the technique we use. Do not assume that a site you have visited in the past is still suitable. Check it out before each visit.

Organise and look after your group

  • Keep your group to a manageable size and follow your LEA or organisation’s guidelines regarding staff to pupil ratios;
  • Make sure that all supervising adults are aware of their roles and responsibilities;
  • Make sure that all group members are adequately equipped;
  • Explain what sort of behaviour is required.

Consider the environment

Many habitats and other features in the National Park are unique and internationally important. The North York Moors have been designated as a ‘Special Protection Area’, the coastline is a ‘Heritage Coast’ with ‘Sensitive Marine Areas’ and there are many ‘Sites of Special Scientific Interest’.

Please try to include in your programme an element which will encourage pupils to value this special environment and reduce the impact you make by remembering the following:

  • Take all litter home (and put as much as possible in recycling bins)
  • Most land is privately owned. Keep to rights of way or read signs which will tell you where you can go;
  • Cyclists and horse riders – check out the rights of way network on a map and keep to bridleways;
  • On moorland avoid lighting fires or barbecues;
  • On the coast, explain to your group that the weird and wonderful things on the seashore are living things and should not be harmed, replace rocks exactly as you find them and leave plants and animals on the shore.
  • Fossil hunters – look for fossils in loose beach material, only collect a small number, avoid hammering and keep well away from the base of cliffs.

 Consider the local community

  • In villages, organise large groups into smaller groups, each supervised by an adult;
  • Keep groups together and give way to members of the public;
  • Respect residents’ privacy and the peaceful atmosphere in many villages;
  • If you need to buy food or souvenirs, shop locally wherever possible and look for local produce and crafts;
  • If you intend to visit Robin Hoods Bay, note that in June and July this small village becomes extremely congested with school groups. You can help to ease this congestion and have a more peaceful experience by visiting during the spring or autumn terms. You can find out more from the Bayfair website which has been developed by local residents and provides information about the area.