Getting Wild at Nower Wood
23rd March 2026
Last week, our Wilder Schools Excellence group spent a brilliant day out at Nower Wood, and it’s safe to say the visit was packed with mud, wildlife, teamwork, and one very surprising discovery!
The group got hands‑on with all things outdoors, starting with swing‑building in the woods. Using ropes, branches, and a lot of teamwork (plus the odd "does this look safe?" moment), they created an impressive natural swing that was tested thoroughly - purely for scientific purposes, of course. Next up was whittling sticks.
The afternoon saw everyone take to the water trays for pond dipping, where the competition to find the "coolest creature" was fierce. But one student absolutely stole the show - Noah found an incredibly rare crested newt!
This amazing spot had the whole group, and Nower Wood staff, buzzing as you don’t come across these protected creatures every day! It was a real wildlife‑win and definitely the highlight of the trip.
This visit was part of the group’s ongoing work with the Surrey Wildlife Trust, who have been supporting them all year with making bird boxes, planting a wild meadow and visiting the ecology area. The students have been learning about local habitats, biodiversity, and how small changes can make a big impact on wildlife.
