Updated August 2023

Wildlife Watch session dates

Check your Wildlife Watch session dates here.

As with any outdoor activity there is a small risk of injury. Our site and activities are comprehensively risk assessed and there is a first-aider present. Where possible we will ask the accompanying adult to administer to minor wounds. Children will not be allowed to take part in activities the leader considers to be unsafe. In the event of an injury, we will call an ambulance if necessary. The child remains in the care of their accompanying adult who would be expected to carry and administer any required medication. 

Telephone numbers are requested for a non-attending adult, who will be contacted if the attending adult is injured. Please help us to set a good example by modelling the behaviour expected and following the advice we give on safe tool use. Please make sure your child keeps to the outside of the fire circle unless invited in to tend the fire. Sussex Wildlife Trust cannot be held responsible for injury arising from the misuse of tools.  

Additional Needs/Access

Wildlife Watch takes place in outdoor locations which are not always suitable for people with restricted mobility, however we will always try our best to use a site with reasonable access paths. Please contact us to discuss access and mobility before making a booking if you think this might be an issue, and let us know if you have any additional needs. 

Clothing 

The Scandinavians have it right when they say: ‘No such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes’. 

To maximise your child’s comfort and enjoyment of the sessions, please ensure you and they are adequately clothed for the weather conditions in long trousers and robust, closed-toed footwear year-round, to help protect them from nettle stings or insect bites. 

Wellies or stout boots are advised from September-April and sun cream, hats and insect repellent for the summer term. 

Waterproof coat with hood / trousers or all-in-ones are highly recommended for rainy days. 

If all goes to plan, the children will get muddy on most sessions.  

Weather 

Sessions go ahead rain or shine, but will not run if the Met office weather forecast shows a predicted wind speed (gust or continual speed) of gale force, which could present a danger from falling branches. In these circumstances we will inform you at the earliest opportunity – either the day before or on the morning using the email/text numbers you supplied on booking. We are unable to offer refunds for cancelled sessions, but we’ll do our best to reschedule a catch-up session in the case of extreme weather. 

Food and drink 

To minimise contact we are offering fewer drinks and snacks at sessions. Please bring a mug for yourself and your tot to each session for any hot drinks provided. You are welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks, however we ask that no food is passed round or shared outside family groups

Photos, videos and social media 

Great photos of children happily engaging with nature are an enormous help when promoting our work. With your permission, photographs and video footage may be taken of the children during activities, for use solely to promote the work of Sussex Wildlife Trust and taken by a designated Sussex Wildlife Trust staff member or photographer. No names will be given, unless agreed with the accompanying adult and for a particular reason. As social media grows more popular, we know parents enjoy sharing photos of their children participating in our activities. Some parents do not wish pictures of their children to appear on social media so we would request that, if your intended picture includes anyone else's child, you must seek the accompanying adult's permission before taking it. Thank you. 

Payments, refunds and cancellations 

Please click the link here for our Course and Event Booking Terms & Conditions.

If we need to cancel a session due to extreme weather conditions or other events beyond our control, we will inform you at the earliest opportunity – either the night before or on the morning using the email/text numbers you supplied on booking. We are unable to offer refunds for cancelled sessions, but we’ll do our best to reschedule a catch-up session in the case of extreme weather. 

Younger siblings 

 Please see our Nature Tots sessions for children aged 3-5

Data Protection and Privacy 

We do not store credit card details or share customer details with any third parties. We will only contact you about Sussex Wildlife Trust activities.

Our contact details

Can be found on our Meet the Team page.