Environmental Education

An Creagán have long been involved in education with biodiversity programs going back many years and involving local schools at primary and secondary level.  Peatland forms much of the local landscape and our education programs have evolved to engage participants on the biodiversity, archaeology, ecosystem and climate services of peatland, all while providing a healthy mindful, activity-based visit to An Creagán Bog Nature Reserve. In 2023 An Creagán formed a partnership with Ulster Wildlife purchasing Haugheys Bog, a drained and degraded peatland site located nearby.  Ulster Wildlife have offices at An Creagan and are working to restore degraded peatland sites across the Sperrins as part of a wider program funded by DAERA called the Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy.  Key to the Peatland strategy is public engagement and An Creagan employ a full time Peatland Officer to support Ulster Wildlife in their work and deliver public engagement and education on the benefits of peatland restoration and the wider ecology of peatlands.  The Haugheys Bog site, along with An Creagán Bog Nature Reserve serve as a training and education resource not only for contractors and environmental professionals but also for schools and other education organisations, keen to offer their students an opportunity to learn about wildlife, landscape and environmental conservation and restoration.

Our Education Resource

An Creagán is a multi-faceted centre with onsite self-catering accommodation and a restaurant, and they offer events and classes focusing on the arts, well-being and education.  At the heart of the centre is our education space, with interpretation panels centred on peatland.  The space also has audio visual presentation equipment and demonstration models which allow our Peatland Officer to convey the story of the bogs and peatland restoration.  The education space can host groups of up to 30 and is accessible for all.  The internal space is complimented by An Creagáns own, on site Bog Nature Reserve which boasts a 1km board walk and a further 5km of forest walk.  This along with our pond system forms the basis for our outdoor learning allowing us to get up close to the nature of the bog and the surrounding landscape and carry out practical activities that support the classroom learning.

How we structure the learning

We have looked closely at the Northern Ireland Curriculum for both Primary and Secondary School education and structured our program to align with their needs.  Delivered in a morning or afternoon session, we have developed a program that aligns with the ‘World Around Us’ for KS1 and KS2 as well as delivering for STEM and KS3.  Our program looks at the biodiversity and wildlife of peatland, examining the flora and fauna that have evolved on this unique landscape.  Further to this the program looks at the ecosystem services that peatland provides, purifying our water, mitigating against flooding as well as the contribution to the fight against climate change.  We look at the potential for to bogs tell us about the past with their ability to preserve and protect ancient remnants among other things.  In the classroom, we utilize demonstration models that mimic the behaviour of water on healthy and degraded peatland, and we mix audio visual presentation with tutor led engagement, interacting with the children at their level of understanding.  For KS3 and STEM, we demonstrate how we use technology to survey and record everything from birds on the bog to fluctuations in water levels.  Finally, the immersive visit to the bog gives participants the opportunity to carry out practical tasks such as pond dipping for insects or recording peat depths all of which complement the classroom learning as well as giving them the opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, contributing to personal wellbeing.

Shared Education

An educational visit may also form part of a Shared Education Programme. This would enable pupils, from your partnership, to explore learning in a new environment. The visit would compliment Shared Education activity and allow pupils to build their knowledge & understanding of specific themes or topics.

Further Education Provision

While we provide structured sessions for primary and secondary school children, we can be more flexible when it comes to the specific needs of Further Education students.  Recently we facilitated a Master’s student from Queens University allowing them to conduct their experiments on the peatland sites we are working on, with support from both An Creagán and Ulster Wildlife staff on the project but also in developing other skills and knowledge.  At the request of further Education Colleges, we can provide relevant work experience or facilitate research projects or organise volunteering sessions which provide much needed hands-on experience.

Booking

We are now taking bookings for the Autumn/Winter 2024 period.  Please email [email protected] for more information or to book.