High Weald Heroes: Learning from the Landscape
30 September 2026
More than 3,500 pupils from 30 primary schools across the High Weald took part in our free High Weald Heroes education programme last year. The programme gives children the chance to get outside, sometimes get muddy, and discover more about the special place where they live.
Bringing the High Weald to life
High Weald Heroes helps schools bring the story of the High Weald to life through outdoor learning, classroom activities and practical projects. Led by High Weald Education Officer Rachel Bennington, the programme offers schools free curriculum-linked activities designed to give children a stronger sense of connection to and understanding of their local landscape.
At the heart of the programme are our ever-popular Welly Walks. Schools can have bespoke walking routes created for them, starting and finishing at the school gate and exploring the countryside right on their doorstep. Each route is turned into a walk leaflet with directions and photographs, giving the school a free and accessible outdoor learning resource that can be used again and again.
Many schools also put the routes on their websites, allowing families to download them and enjoy the walks together after school or at weekends.
Welly Walks can be tailored to different ages and linked to all kinds of curriculum topics, using the landscape as an outdoor classroom. Last year alone, Rachel led children on more than 60 curriculum-linked Welly Walks all across the High Weald.
High Weald Heroes also provides fun, interactive classroom sessions, projects and learning resources, as well as support to help schools make more of their own grounds. All are designed to enrich the curriculum by connecting the story children learn at school with the landscape, history and nature they can see around them.
“I never knew there was so much here”
Pupils from Mayfield, Frant and Mark Cross have already started their new school year on a high, with their school Welly Walks timed to coincide with September’s High Weald Walking Festival.
Mayfield Primary School organised a whole school Welly Walk, with all of the children heading out into the stunning Mayfield countryside. They walked around two miles in the autumn sunshine, crossing fields and stiles, exploring woodlands and following a gill stream.
Around 90 pupils aged between 5 and 11 took part, joined by parents and school staff – creating a trail of more than 100 walkers at a time through the High Weald countryside.
The walk provided an opportunity for some of the children to stop and meet their local farmer. After chatting about the farm, the children have been invited to return in their class groups to meet the cows. “I can’t wait!” was the response!
It was a simple encounter, but one that sums up what High Weald Heroes is all about: helping children step outside the school gate and connect with the stunning landscape they call home.
Find out more about our High Weald Heroes education programme. If you would like to arrange a visit or Welly Walk for your school, please contact Rachel: Rachel.Bennington@highweald.og
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