Suntrap Forest Education Centre

General information

We are an environmental education centre situated in 7 acres of private grounds in Epping Forest. Since 1967, Suntrap has welcomed a range of schools, colleges, nurseries, children centres and family groups to explore our natural environment. A visit to the centre gives students the opportunity to learn in and about a natural environment close to where they live and we positively encourage our learners to come back to the forest with their families. The classrooms are fully furnished with the equipment to carry out field work investigations up to A level standard, as well as a full kit of orienteering equipment for additional courses that we run in the forest.
We have a range of vertebrate and invertebrate animals which can be handled to teach caring and respecting living things as well as learning about different animal groups or adaptations. During the summer and early autumn terms, many school groups book in for camping on our private field enjoying activities during the day and relaxing around the camp fire in the evening.
The main building at Suntrap is also of historical interest as it was previously a children's hospital treating TB and then used as a maternity hospital during the 2nd World War. Prior to this, the poet John Clare resided here when the site was one of the first therapeutic hospitals for mentally ill patients.