The Royal Parks charity unveils new Learning Centre

The Royal Parks charity has unveiled a brand-new learning space today, Saturday 25 May, in the heart of Greenwich Park to provide new outdoor learning opportunities for schools and community groups.

The charity, which manages London’s eight Royal Parks, has funded the project as part of the £12 million, four-year, Greenwich Park Revealed initiative alongside a grant from the Parks for People programme, joint funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.

The new building was also made possible from gifts by Garfield Weston Foundation, Fidelity UK Foundation, The Wolfson Foundation, and The Foyle Foundation.

The Greenwich Park Learning Centre was designed and built with accessibility, sustainability, and the surrounding landscape in mind. The indoor learning space sits within a larger outdoor learning area which includes a learning canopy, nature trails, a dipping pond, and a wildlife meadow.

The nearby former Wildlife Centre building has also been transformed into a welcoming entrance with accessible toilet facilities.

Learning partner, the Field Studies Council, is running school sessions from the new Learning Centre as well as other activities out in the park.

The Royal Parks’ Learning Team is exploring options for a community public programme that can inspire communities local to Greenwich and beyond to connect with nature, heritage, and wellbeing.

Daniella Briscoe-Peaple, Partnerships and Engagement Officer at Greenwich Park, said:

“We’re thrilled to be opening the doors of the Learning Centre today and welcoming everyone to this fantastic new education space for schools and community groups.

“We hope this space will inspire local groups to learn more about the park’s history and the natural landscape on their doorstep, and it will inspire people to discover and learn about their environment, particularly as we face the pressures of climate change.”

A famous portrait of Ignatius Sancho, by society artist Thomas Gainsborough.

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Remembering Ignatius Sancho

Ignatius Sancho was a writer, composer and abolitionist who lived on the edge of Greenwich Park, and became the first black person to vote in Britain.

History & heritage | Historical figures