Creekside Discovery Centre
Region
Europe
Country
UK
Flyway
East Atlantic flyway
Initiative
WLI Europe
About
Creekside Education Trust
Funding support: Thames Water, City Bridge Trust, Deptford Challenge Trust, Awards for All (Big Lottery Fund)
Number of staff: One full-time, two part-time, a few freelancers (about 3)
Number of visitors per year: 6,000
Overall aims of the centre
a) To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the Deptford Creek and the River Thames area
b) To advance public education in environment matters
c) In the interests of social welfare, to promote sustainable facilities and use of Deptford Creek, the River Thames and the local environment for recreation and leisure time occupation.
Description of the centre
Built on a brownfield site (ex gas site), situated next to Deptford Creek (tidal and mostly freshwater)
Work Areas
Main CEPA work areas
The majority of our work involves creating and facilitating tailor-made, ‘hands on’ education sessions working with both primary and secondary school students. Our ethos is to get people outside experiencing, interacting and learning about urban wildlife both in terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Our most popular education sessions involve students getting ‘wadered-up’ and walking in a ‘wild river’.
We also facilitate teacher training sessions demonstrating to teachers how fun and rewarding outdoor education can be and how much it can add to students learning.
We run monthly low tide creek walks for people of all ages and abilities introducing people to the vast biology, geography and history around Deptford Creek.
The centre is not open to the public day-to-day. We do however run sessions for families during the school holidays working with people from ages 3+. Our sessions include: Mudlarking, Crab fishing, Den building/fire and bread making, bug hunting, arts/crafts and drama.
Top three successes
Our holiday programmes
The increase in the number of schools visiting us
Our partnership with LESOCO college, particularly our pond
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Producing written materials; Developing nature trails
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Working with disabled people; Engaging hard-to-reach groups; Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Early years education; Delivering adult education; Working with primary schools; Working with secondary schools; Developing resources / materials
General
Fund-raising
Contact
Creekside Discovery Centre,
14 Creekside,
Deptford,
London
SE8 4SA.
0208 692 9922