Our Year 5 adventure to Naturesbase,  a rural outdoor education centre and working farm in Wales, was one of those treasured experiences in life that stays with you for years. After a four-and-a-half-hour coach ride through a very rural and wiggly Welsh countryside, the children arrived eager to embrace nature and new experiences.

Each day was packed with hands-on group activities, from fire-starting and boiling “dragon vomit,” to building Stone Age shelters, crafting natural jewellery, and felting with local wool. The legendary 7-mile hike along the River Aeron, (details of which have been passed down from sibling to sibling and year group to year group and the length naturally exaggerated over time), ended at the Aberaeron coast and we were all treated to a well-earned and utterly scrumptious honey ice cream.

Mealtimes were a joy, with hearty, home-cooked food served in a warm, communal setting and conversation bubbling from all corners. Seconds and even thirds were happily enjoyed, and every child proudly helped uphold Hazlegrove’s esteemed title as the leading “Zero Hero” school, above all others, ensuring no food went to waste.

Beyond the activities, the trip was a fantastic opportunity for bonding, growth, and independence, and for many, it was their first time away from home. Each of the 44 children received a personal certificate and award at the end, celebrating their own journey, achievements and contributions. The experience built on key Hazlegrove values and developed resilience, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Naturesbase gave our pupils a deep love for nature, pride in themselves, and unforgettable memories, ones that younger children, watching wide-eyed and inspired by their older peers, will one day experience for themselves.