The Suntrap team is now on tour from July 2019 - April 2020 as our much loved building will be closed for major refurbishment work funded by the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Our space will be transformed into something even more remarkable. As soon as the spade hits the ground we'll keep you updated on our progress!
Watch this space and sign up to our Sunchat newsletter to receive the latest updates on our upcoming plans.
September 2019 onwards
Our Open day was an ideal opportunity to reminiscence about Suntrap. To share and preserve these stories we set up a memory tree for people to add their anecdotes. HighamSpark radio interviewed visitors and will shortly be producing a podcast of interviews.
We still want to hear from you so come along and contribute at our Waltham Forest library roadshow or share on our Facebook page. At each library we're running an adult workshop about our local natural heritage and at the closing event there's the chance to meet some of our animals. The exhibition is packed full of stories about Suntrap and Epping Forest. There are fun quizzes for both for under and over 5's.
Saturday 29 June 2019
It was wonderful to see so many visitors at our Open Day on Saturday 29 June, sharing with us so many great recollections on our memory tree. Our Facebook page has more photos from the event, please leave a post with your own reminisces of Suntrap.
One memory we'd like to share:
'I used to come here as a child in the 1970s, 1980s when I was at St Joseph's Junior School, Leyton. I remember an owl and a snake. I then became a teacher and brought many classes here - again fabulous memories made as well as lots learnt! I also became a mum and have brought my two boys here for family days, pond dipping, climbing, lantern making and bonfire, camp fire making and den building to name but a few.'
Starting Autumn 2019
Fantastic opportunity for all Waltham Forest secondary schools!
Through Great Places:Creative Connection Scheme funding during September 2019 to April 2020 we're running tailor-made for all subjects, fun practicals activities to help young people discover and learn more about our diverse local heritage and natural environment.
Free two hour outreach sessions (30 students max) packed full of inspiration, ideas and advice providing the perfect guide to fostering creativity and pride in the local area.
Spaces are filling in so please don't delay in getting in touch to reserve a free space at your school!
Waltham Forest Council has made a £4.1 million investment in Suntrap to upgrade and improve the facilities on offer to families and young people. Work will start in July this year and should be completed by April 2020. In mid April we were granted planning permission from Epping Forest Council.
Making new friends!
One of our partners is The Garden Classroom, a charity and social enterprise that provides heavily subsidised high-quality learning in natural environments programmes for Islington and Hackney schools in local parks and gardens and further afield camping in Kent. They've made good use of some of our redundant stools at their camp. Great place to sit on a rainy day to watch a film!
Suntrap plans to continue to build relationships with schools across the whole of London please help spread the word!