Gorsefield Rural Studies Centre

06/09/2026

🏃‍♂️ Today, our headteacher, Paul Jackson is running The Big Half to raise funds for Gorsefield!

Our amazing team of more than 35 runners has already raised £3,000 to help create memorable experiences for children from East London.

Many of the children who visit Gorsefield would not otherwise have access to opportunities like these, so every donation really does make a difference.

Please help us bring even more children to Gorsefield – and give me some extra motivation to get around today’s half-marathon course! Any sponsorship, however small, would be hugely appreciated. 💚

You can sponsor Paul here:

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/paul-jackson-s-gorsefield-big-half-2026

Thank you so much for your support!

Fundraiser - On 6th September 2026, I will be running The Big Half  to raise vital funds for The Gorsefield Charitable Foundation. I am taking on this challenge to help children from Inner City Tower Hamlets access experiences they would otherwise miss out on. ...

18/08/2026

🍅🍇🍑 A fruitful summer at Gorsefield! 🌿

Our kitchen garden and orchard have certainly been keeping us busy this year, with a fantastic harvest so far!

From baskets of ripe plums and tomatoes to freshly juiced grapes and delicious homemade jam, it’s wonderful to see so much of what we grow at Gorsefield being put to good use. 🫙✨

A lovely example of our commitment to growing our own, eating seasonally and making the most of the produce from our grounds. 💚

🛍️ You can even enjoy a taste of Gorsefield at home! Some of our homegrown produce and homemade goodies are available to buy here:
https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/shop/Gorsefield-Gifts

And there’s still plenty more to come! 🌱

08/08/2026

🍂🍽️ A Taste of Gorsefield – The Autumn Harvest 🍽️🍂

We’re delighted to announce the next event in our popular series of Pop-Up Restaurant Fundraisers at Gorsefield!

Join us on Friday 30 October for a special evening celebrating the wonderful flavours, warmth and abundance of autumn. 🍎🌿

👨‍🍳 Our talented catering team, led by Head Chef Tom Hadlow, will create a delicious seasonal dining experience, using produce grown in Gorsefield’s own kitchen garden and orchard wherever possible.

📅 Friday 30 October 2026
🕖 Arrive from 7pm | Food served from 7.30pm
📍 Gorsefield Rural Studies & Outdoor Activity Centre, Stansted Mountfitchet

And it’s about much more than enjoying a fantastic evening of food. 💚

Every ticket helps us raise vital funds to support Gorsefield and the memorable residential and outdoor learning experiences we provide for children and young people.

Many of the children who visit us come from some of London’s most disadvantaged communities. Your support helps give them opportunities to explore the countryside, connect with nature, build confidence and create memories that can last a lifetime. 🌳✨

We’d love you to join us for what promises to be another wonderful evening at Gorsefield. Please also share with friends, family and colleagues who might enjoy it!

🎟️ Tickets & further information:
https://a-taste-of-gorsefield-the-autumn-harvest.eventbrite.co.uk

Pop-up Restaurant Fundraiser

27/07/2026

🌿 Come and join the team at Gorsefield! 🌿

Do you enjoy working in a friendly team, love great food, and appreciate the beauty of the countryside? We're looking for two enthusiastic people to join us at Gorsefield Rural Studies & Outdoor Activity Centre in Stansted Mountfitchet.

We're currently recruiting for:

🍳 Weekend Catering Support
Help prepare delicious breakfasts, lunches and evening meals for our visiting school groups. Menus are planned in advance, with much of the preparation completed by our weekday catering team.

🧹 Weekend Kitchen, Cleaning & Housekeeping Support
Help keep Gorsefield running smoothly by supporting in the kitchen, assisting with cleaning, and ensuring our centre is clean, comfortable and welcoming for every group that visits.

📅 Casual, zero-hours positions
Typical working pattern:
• Friday: 2.00pm – 7.00pm
• Saturday: 7.00am – 7.00pm
• Sunday: 7.00am – 4.00pm

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a welcoming team, working in the beautiful surroundings of Gorsefield while helping to create memorable experiences for children and young people enjoying outdoor learning.

✅ A full DBS check will be required before employment.

If this sounds like the perfect role for you—or someone you know—we'd love to hear from you!

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.gorsefield.org

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested. 💚

25/07/2026

We’re recruiting: Weekend Catering and Housekeeping Support

Gorsefield Rural Studies and Outdoor Activity Centre, Stansted Mountfitchet, is looking for two reliable and suitably experienced people to support our weekend residential bookings.

We are recruiting for:
Weekend Catering Support
Preparing breakfast, lunch and evening meals for visiting groups. Menus will be planned in advance, with most preparation completed by our weekday catering team.
Weekend Kitchen, Cleaning and Housekeeping Support
Helping in the kitchen, supporting with cleaning and carrying out general housekeeping duties so the centre is welcoming and ready for visitors.
Both roles will be offered on a casual, zero-hours basis.

A typical weekend working pattern is:
Friday: 2.00pm–7.00pm
Saturday: 7.00am–7.00pm
Sunday: 7.00am–4.00pm
This is a great opportunity to join a friendly team and support a unique outdoor education centre in a beautiful rural setting.

A full DBS check will be required before starting work.

To express an interest or request further details, please contact Paul Jackson directly:

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.gorsefield.org

Please share this post with anyone locally who may be interested.

03/07/2026

🍽️🌿🎶 Looking for a fun summer Friday night out? 🍽️🌿🎶

Our next fundraising event is now just over a week away, and we’re excited to share a lovely addition to the evening:

✨ A Taste of Gorsefield: The Al Fresco Table ✨
📅 Friday 10 July

Alongside a relaxed evening of outdoor dining, seasonal food and beautiful surroundings, we are delighted to announce that live entertainment will be provided by Rhiannon Howys, bringing her West End musical experience, along with Milly O’Connor joining her for a few numbers during the evening. 🎤🎵

Rhiannon will perform a range of music to suit different tastes, so this will be the perfect soundtrack to a warm, welcoming summer evening at Gorsefield.

Our Head Chef Tom will be preparing a delicious seasonal menu using homegrown and locally sourced ingredients. 🌱

Our last pop-up restaurant fundraiser sold out, one guest told us:
💬 “There was such a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and we were very impressed with everything — the food was amazing!!”

This is a great chance to enjoy fantastic food, live music, good company and a beautiful setting, all while supporting the Gorsefield Charitable Foundation, helping more children access outdoor learning experiences. 🌳💚

🎟️ Tickets are limited, and the event is coming up fast.

👉 Book here: https://A-Taste-of-Gorsefield-the-Al-Fresco-Table.eventbrite.co.uk

We’d love to see you there. Please feel free to share with friends and family. 😊

Pop-up Restaurant Fundraiser

15/06/2026

🏃‍♂️🌿 50km completed for a cause that means so much 🌿🏃‍♂️

Last Saturday, our very own Paul Jackson completed the South Downs Way 50km Challenge to raise funds for the Gorsefield Charitable Foundation.

Every step of the journey was motivated by a simple goal: helping more children access opportunities that many of us take for granted.

At Gorsefield Outdoor Learning Centre, we work with children from across London, including many from Tower Hamlets, providing opportunities to explore nature, develop confidence, build independence, and experience the outdoors in ways that can have a lasting impact on their lives.

For some children, a visit to Gorsefield is their first experience of the countryside. For others, it is their first residential visit away from home. Sadly, financial barriers mean that some families struggle to afford even day visits, meaning these valuable experiences can be out of reach without additional support.

The funds raised through this challenge will help provide visits, transport, meals and activities, ensuring that more children can benefit from everything Gorsefield has to offer.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported, encouraged, donated, and cheered me on along the way. Your generosity will help create opportunities and memories that will stay with children for years to come. 💚

https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/paul-j-s-south-downs-way-50k-

Fundraiser - On Saturday 13th June, Paul Jackson will be running The South Downs Way 50k to raise vital funds for The Gorsefield Charitable Foundation. I am taking on this challenge to help children from Inner City Tower Hamlets access experiences they would otherwi...

18/05/2026

🌿✨ A huge thank you to W. D. Smith & Son for their generous donation of plants to us here at Gorsefield Outdoor Learning Centre.

These wonderful additions will help us continue to enhance our gardens and outdoor spaces for the children, schools and groups who visit us throughout the year. 🌸🌱

We are incredibly grateful for your support and look forward to seeing these plants flourish around the site in the months ahead. 💚

23/04/2026

🌿🍽️ Looking for something a bit different this summer? 🍽️🌿

Following our recent sell-out Spring Pop-Up Restaurant, we’re excited to share that our next event is now open for bookings:

✨ A Taste of Gorsefield: The Al Fresco Table (July) ✨

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming evening of outdoor dining, featuring a delicious, seasonal menu prepared by our Head Chef Tom, using homegrown, foraged and locally sourced ingredients. 🌱

Our last event had such a lovely atmosphere — here’s what one guest said:

💬 “There was such a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and we were very impressed with everything — the food was amazing!!”

It’s a great chance to enjoy fantastic food, good company, and a beautiful setting, all while supporting the Gorsefield Charitable Foundation, helping more children access outdoor learning experiences. 🌳💚

🎟️ Tickets are limited — and our last event sold out!
👉 Book here: https://A-Taste-of-Gorsefield-the-Al-Fresco-Table.eventbrite.co.uk

We’d love to see some local faces there — feel free to share with friends! 😊

Pop-up Restaurant Fundraiser