Discover how the beach can be a powerful setting for learning, nature connection and wellbeing.

Dates and Timings

21st-25th September 2026, 9.30am-4.30pm

Location: Holywell Beach, Eastbourne

Parking / Public transport: Use Traveline to plan your journey There is free roadside parking here: Dukes Drive, Upper Dukes Drive and King Edward’s Parade (some parking bays are for 4 hours only).

Meeting Point: The meeting point will be here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kVYPYLm1TDJbqn6J9

What3words: hats.hops.smug

Toilets: · There are public toilets on the beach (approx. 400m from our training location) and in Helen Garden. They charge £1 to enter via take card payments (cashless).

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for people who work with children (from preschool to secondary), young people and the wider community. It's an approach to learning in wild places that has its roots in the forest school approach; repeat engagement, nature connection, learner centred and community focused.

Entry Criteria

Participants need to be over 18 years of age and have an interest in working with children and young people outdoors.

Course Content

The training will identify hazards on our beaches and consider risk ratings and control measures that we can put in place to reduce risk. It will equip you with the skills to establish shelter from the extremes of weather our exposed coastline provides throughout the year. You'll learn some handy knots and lashings and how to utilise the features of your unique beach setting to create shelter. It will help build your knowledge and understanding around our ever-changing beach environment and how we can share this learning with the people we work with through engaging activities.

Throughout the course, we will explore the pathways to ocean connection through our senses. By exploring rock pools; taking time to watch waves; paddling in the sea, we will notice and appreciate nature's beauty engaging with it through art, words, and sound.

Course Layout

Five days of training to cover:

Keeping safe on the beach

Practical skills on the beach

Understanding the beach environment

Ocean Connection

Training days run from 9.30am – 4.30pm in an outdoor setting

To complete the course we ask our learners to record their learning in a straightforward workbook . This is to be submitted within six months of the course start date (Please refer to booking Terms & Conditions).

The course will take place outside in a beach setting.

Will this course lead to an accreditation?

On successful completion of the course you will be awarded an AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group Level 3 Wild Beach Leader certificate.

Special Instructions:

Please ensure that you arrive ten minutes before the start time, on the first day, for registration.

Kit List

The training is primarily based outdoors and as such there are certain things you need to bring. The kit list below is obviously weather dependant.

Please bring a form of photographic identification with you to register such as a driving licence, passport or other reputable form of photographic ID

Lunch, snacks and plenty of water. Hot water will be available, please bring your own tea/coffee/milk/flask etc.

Notebook, pen and camera

This is a practical and active outdoor course so please wear plenty of warm clothes, hat and gloves, thermals. It can be cold on the beach when a sea breeze starts.

Full waterproofs including trousers.

Please make sure you have closed toe, sturdy shoes or wellington boots and something to paddle in, but please don't wear flip flops for the course.

Consider sun cream and insect repellent.

A bag to carry your kit.

Hygiene

Please DO NOT attend the course if you are unwell (high temperature, continuous cough, diarrhoea and/or vomiting within last 48 hours) and notify your trainer via TEXT directly.

Severe Weather

We aim to go ahead in most weather conditions; however, activities will not go ahead in severe weather such as high winds, extreme cold and/or persistent heavy rain, and where indoor alternatives cannot be arranged. You will receive an email and/or a phone call the day before the event to be informed of cancellation. If you are not contacted, the event will be going ahead as planned.

This information should answer most questions you have about the training, however if you do have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact:

wbtraining@sussexwt.org.uk Tel: 01273 497561

Please read, understand and agree to our Booking Terms and Conditions here before making a booking.

Wild Beach Training | Sussex Wildlife Trust

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation more than 90 days before the course start date = 10% of total booking cost

Cancellation between 31-90 days before the course start date = 50% of total booking cost

Cancellation less than 30 days before the course start date = 100% of total booking cost

Description supplied by the event organiser.