Bringing learning to life - swapping desks for sand dunes!

At Chester Zoo we deliver a range of Environmental Leadership courses and youth events to build skills and empower young people to take action for nature. 

On a bright and sunny day in April, students from Cheshire College swapped their classrooms for the coast, heading out to Red Rocks Nature Reserve on the Wirral. The conservation site visit was part of their Environmental Leadership course, delivered by Chester Zoo at Cheshire College South & West, Ellesmere Port Campus, where students had been learning about UK species and conservation projects. 

Red Rocks is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the Dee Estuary and is home to some incredible (and rare!) wildlife. This includes the Natterjack toad, the Grayling butterfly as well as a wide range of important plant and bird species. 

During the course and site visit, students learned about a real conservation projects including a collaborative project to support the Grayling butterfly led by Chester Zoo, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and Butterfly Conservation Trust. The project focused on growing and planting out sea holly plants across the sand dunes to support local Grayling butterfly populations, which rely on the plant for food. Sadly, Grayling butterflies have declined by around 70% in the UK in recent years and are now classed as vulnerable – making this work more important than ever. 

The students loved exploring the dunes, spotting and identifying coastal species such as mermaid’s purses (shark, skate and ray egg cases), and visiting the specially managed areas for Natterjack toads they’d previously learned about in lessons. They also chatted with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust team to find out more about how conservation happens on the ground.

Between September 2025 and early 2026, the students completed a Level 2 qualification in Environmental Leadership. The course focused on practical, transferable life skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation, and problem-solving – alongside hands-on conservation learning. Students also led their own projects for positive change. 

Learning comes alive when you’re out in nature. This site visit was the final part of the course, bringing everything together and giving students the chance to experience a real conservation site first-hand. Along the way, the course also explored the wide variety of career paths available within conservation.

A Course Lead Teacher, from Cheshire College South & West, Ellesmere Port Campus said:

"They got stuck into conservation work, learning about species like Natterjack toads, sand lizards, and local butterflies, while also exploring what a future career in conservation could look like.  Experiences like this are invaluable – they help students apply their knowledge in real-world settings, build teamwork skills, and better understand the local impact of conservation work."

And sometimes, it’s the simple moments that matter most. 

The group loved being out in nature and spending time with friends. They took part in creative team-building challenges, including creating sand sculptures of mythical coastal creatures.