Action and adventure in Birmingham - 09/03/2010

Reportedly the first outdoor adventure centre in the West Midlands to be awarded the LOtC Quality Badge, Bear Creek Adventure Ltd and Edgbaston Watersports offer an alternative educational experience.

In the heart of Birmingham lies a tranquil secret; Edgbaston reservoir - invisible from the road and therefore overlooked by most city folk. Situated close to the city centre, the reservoir is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. Built in 1827 by Thomas Telford as a ‘top up’ for Birmingham’s canal system, it is still used for that same purpose today.

The 70-acre site is predominantly open water and supports a variety of birdlife. It is also a valuable city site for animals such as newts and bats. A belt of woodland and grassland encircles the reservoir providing an oasis of natural beauty in an urban setting.

Not just reserved as a wildlife haven, Edgbaston reservoir is also home to Bear Creek Adventure Ltd and Edgbaston Water Sports, where school groups of any age or ability are encouraged to try their hand at a variety of watersports, including sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.

An alternative experience

Local schools and colleges are invited to make the most of this fantastic facility with regular classes, promoted under the government scheme, Learning Outside the Classroom. Pupils can take lessons in sailing alongside traditional curriculum subjects such as Maths and English. With outdoor learning now on the increase, education no longer begins and ends in the classroom. Increasingly, schools are expected to look beyond traditional methods to give pupils opportunities they may not experience otherwise.

According to educational providers, the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) initiative, which promotes teaching and learning beyond the school premises, has seen schools sign up for adventure activities as never before, and Edgbaston Water Sports is only too happy to organise these extra-curricular lessons.

Director of Edgbaston Water Sports, Jacqui Dutton explains: “We get a lot of students studying Physical Education at GCSE level as water sports offer a different dimension. Aside from aiding children’s personal and social development, the centre helps many overcome a fear of water and other phobias.”