Pond Dipping and Outdoor Habitats

Step onto London’s oldest Nature Trail, explore the wild side of the Horniman Gardens and the animals that live there.

Dip nets in the Horniman’s pond and explore outdoor habitats on our wild Nature Trail. Use scientific equipment to collect animals and first-hand observation to learn more about them. Reconnect with nature and enhance Science curriculum learning.

This session will run outdoors on the Horniman’s Nature trail and will go ahead unless in the event of extreme weather. Please ensure your pupils are dressed appropriately for the weather.

In the event of extreme weather, the session will be replaced with our indoor taxidermy-based session Animals and their Habitats for years 1-3 and Animal Classification for years 4-6.

The Nature Trail and pond are about a 10-15 minute walk from our Museum building, along an unpaved path. Please let us know when booking if any of the children in your class have physical access needs, so we can make arrangements for step-free access to the trail.

Learning Objectives

Years 1-3

  • Safely and ethically use equipment to sample and observe wildlife.
  • Use an ID guide to try to identify animals.
  • Explore how animals living in the local environment are suited to their habitat.

Years 4-6

  • Explore animals living in local habitats.
  • Use an ID guide to identify animals.
  • Use first-hand observation to group animals according to their physical features.

Quality Badge awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom

Please note that our Natural History Gallery  is now closed as part of a major 2 year redevelopment, Nature + Love. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (from our free Animal Walk, to our World Gallery). Our schools workshops are uneffected.

We will be opening a new, free temporary exhibition about the natural world, animals and their habitats, in September 2024.

Workshop information

How to book

Booking a taught session includes a welcome briefing on arrival, timed access to a lunch space, cloakroom facilities and access to toilets for the exclusive use of school groups.

contact us to make a booking:
schools@horniman.ac.uk
020 8291 8686

When you contact us please have ready:

– the name of the taught session you would like to book or topic you are studying,

– 1st/2nd/3rd choice of date and preferred session time,

– the number of pupils and adults.

Costs

Entrance to the Horniman Museum and Gardens is free of charge. Taught sessions and access to some exhibitions are charged for. We invoice after your visit.

The following charges apply:

Mainstream State schools: £90 including VAT, £75 excluding VAT

Private/independent schools: £129.60 including VAT, £108 excluding VAT

SEND schools and groups: £45 including VAT, £37.25 excluding VAT

We offer a bursary scheme for schools that meet a set criteria.

Planning your visit

See the School Trips page for other essential information including our risk assessment.

We are open from 10am-5.30pm. Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is free of charge but must be booked in advance by emailing schools@horniman.ac.uk.

We offer reduced educational rates for our Aquarium, Butterfly House, and Temporary exhibition. See the School Trips page for further information.

Charges apply to all children aged 3 years and over, and all accompanying teachers and adults, unless they are specific 1:1 carers.