New Manager of Educational Centre Looks Have More Children Learning Outdoors

The new manager of an educational center aims to ensure that children enjoy learning outdoors. Nathan Whittaker, originally from the Gipping Valley area in Suffolk, lived and worked in China before returning during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is now the center manager at Flatford Mill, near East Bergholt, a National Trust site run by the Field Studies Council, which offers various educational courses.

“I’m absolutely delighted to take up this new role back in my home county and in such a special place,” Mr. Whittaker said. “It perfectly combines my experience in the education sector with my love for the environment.”

Mr. Whittaker spent much of his childhood in nature, as both his parents were avid birdwatchers. In China, he worked in education for 15 years, managing the interests of British and US universities there. He described the opportunity at Flatford Mill, the first center established by the Field Studies Council in the 1940s, as something that “popped up out of the blue.”

Mr. Whittaker is passionate about ensuring all schoolchildren can enjoy outdoor educational experiences. “I didn’t thrive in the classroom environment, but I always spent a lot of time outdoors learning. From first-hand experience, I know how important it is for all learners to have those opportunities,” he said. “Schools face many challenges with rising operational and travel costs, so I’ll be looking at how we can partner with different education settings to ensure all schoolchildren can enjoy outdoor educational experiences.”

The charity operates across four buildings at Flatford Mill, including the mill itself and Willy Lott’s Cottage, both made famous by artist John Constable in The Hay Wain. Constable’s father, Golding Constable, owned the mill from 1742 and wanted his son to take it over. However, the younger Constable pursued an art career, and his younger brother eventually took over the site after their father’s death.

Today, visitors and pupils can learn about nature in practical settings by participating in various activities and challenges.