Providers sought to deliver educational visits at Severn Valley Country Park

Severn Valley Country Park

Shropshire Council is inviting applicants with suitable experience and skills to deliver its popular education programme at Severn Valley Country Park in Alveley.

Severn Valley Country Park is a Green Flag Award winning park and the team at the Park have built-up a very successful programme of Ranger-led school visits. Activities available to schools currently include river studies, pond dipping, minibeast hunts, orienteering and scavenger hunts.

With demand for the programme growing each year, the staff at the park now need an outside organisation to deliver the programme from April 2026.

James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for housing and leisure, said:

“The visits offer a wonderful day out that combines curriculum-based content with the lovely surroundings of the Park. Every year between 1400 to 1600 pupils join a school visit to Severn Valley and we’re delighted with how popular and successful these visits have become. However, the success of the programme means that we must now look for an external provider to deliver this programme for us, and ensure that it continues to go from strength to strength.”

The delivery of school visits would be covered by a service level agreement between Shropshire Council and the successful provider. From April 2026, school bookings will be made direct with the provider.

Any interested organisations are asked to provide a written summary of their offer to the council. This should include details of their business, ethos and background; their  plan for delivering and enhancing the education programme at the park; a financial ‘offer’ with regards the hosting fee payable to the council; details of professional accreditations and insurance and risk management measures; and details of how they will deal with safeguarding and emergency planning for visits.

Details of the above should be emailed to Edward Andrews (edward.andrews@shropshire.gov.uk) by 4pm on Monday 22 December. Interested providers can also email to request a site tour or an informal discussion about the opportunity.

Further information

 What a new provider can expect from the council:

• A well-managed, safe and accessible park with ample parking for coaches.
• A range of habitats and features that make a perfect setting for educational visits.
• The opportunity to be the sole organisation delivering formal educational visits at the park (including work with Home Education providers). The team at the park will continue to offer public events such as toddler sessions and seasonal activities.
• Use of our existing education equipment and resources (although some of this is quite old now and will need supplementing with new kit).
• Picnic tables for lunch.
• Indoor area for bag storage/wet lunch (restrictions in place to allow access to café).
• Toilets with accessible cubicle.
• The freedom to develop other activities that can enhance the education. programme and can be demonstrated to be safe.

What the council expects from a new provider:

• Evidence of full safe working practises.
• Evidence of child safety and safeguarding considerations.
• Some level of professional accreditation.
• £5 million public liability insurance in place.
• Payment of a hosting fee to the park for use of the site and facilities (please provide an indication of the level of fee that you would be prepared to pay Shropshire Council).
• Care and courtesy to be demonstrated at all times to other park users and our café tenants.