01895 270730 iver.environment@groundwork.org.uk

About us

We’ve been connecting people to nature for over 35 years.

Our History

Iver Environment Centre is located in the Colne Valley between Uxbridge and Slough. It is one of four environmental education centres across the UK which are owned by the National Grid.  Since opening in 1990, Iver Environment Centre has been managed by Groundwork South,  a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation working with local communities to improve their quality of life. 

Over the past 30 years, the 2.4 acres that make up our centre have blossomed into a beautiful collection of gardens thanks to the help of local businesses and volunteers. Our site includes a polytunnel rainforest, an orchard, a woodland area with a fire pit, two very fruitful allotments, and, in October 2019, we unveiled our new Early Years corner with a mud kitchen built by corporate volunteers. 

We offer a range of activities and education sessions designed to inspire people to explore and reconnect with nature. We engage people of all ages and abilities through holiday activities, curriculum-linked education sessions for schools and a variety of volunteering opportunities.

Our education staff and volunteers deliver a range of nature-based education sessions for children in the local area. We cover topics such as food growing, habitat comparisons and tree studies suitable for Early Years students through to Key Stage 4, with an emphasis on primary school provision. We also run supported volunteering sessions for adults with disabilities once a week, where they can grow their own vegetables, do nature-based crafts, and build skills.

Our Awards

We are proud recipients of the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge, a national benchmark recognising organisations that provide high-quality learning experiences beyond the classroom while demonstrating effective planning, safeguarding, and risk management.

The badge celebrates our commitment to delivering engaging, safe, and meaningful educational opportunities that support learning through real-world experiences. It provides assurance that our programmes meet recognised standards for quality, safety, and educational impact.

Look Into the Past

Sir Mills planting a commemorative tree at the opening of the centre on the 21st of September 1990.
Sir Mills planting a commemorative tree at the opening of the centre on the 21st of September 1990.
The driveway into the centre in 1990.
The driveway into the centre in 1990.
The driveway into the centre now.
The driveway into the centre now.
The original building was just the main foyer area as a classroom with a small kitchenette and toilets.
The original building was just the main foyer area as a classroom with a small kitchenette and toilets.
We now have two classroom, separate toilet block, full sized kitchen and extra office space.
We now have two classroom, separate toilet block, full sized kitchen and extra office space.
The end of the building before the extra classroom and office were added.
The end of the building before the extra classroom and office were added.
The sensory garden has now been developed and there are accessible ramps to the building.
The sensory garden has now been developed and there are accessible ramps to the building.
The view of the building before the children's toilet block was added.
The view of the building before the children's toilet block was added.
We've since added another pond and created more accessible points for our visitors.
We've since added another pond and created more accessible points for our visitors.
The orchard in 1990 before all the apple and plum trees grew.
The orchard in 1990 before all the apple and plum trees grew.
The orchard looking very wild before the meadow was cut in the autumn.
The orchard looking very wild before the meadow was cut in the autumn.
This corner was quite hard to distinguish, but we think its near the mud kitchen and Mediterranean garden.
This corner was quite hard to distinguish, but we think its near the mud kitchen and Mediterranean garden.
Our Mediterranean garden has a vine covered pergola and a paved area for pizza ovens.
Our Mediterranean garden has a vine covered pergola and a paved area for pizza ovens.
Originally the Garden of Time behind the now allotments has changed a lot since 1990.
Originally the Garden of Time behind the now allotments has changed a lot since 1990.
Instead of raised flower beds we now have a pond with a water wheel fountain and a covered area with a collection of antique agriculture tools.
Instead of raised flower beds we now have a pond with a water wheel fountain and a covered area with a collection of antique agriculture tools.