Day trip to Hooke Park

(For new students and staff only)

For the first time in the history of the AA, we will start off the year in an environmentally conscience frame of mind, by traveling to Dorset to plant a forest. To begin this new annual AA tradition, all new students and staff will take a trip to the AA’s woodland campus in southwest England, to breath the fresh forest air, smell the Jurassic coast and feel the breeze of the English Channel. The destination is Hooke Park; a 150-hectare working forest owned and operated by the School that houses a growing educational facility for design, construction and landscape-focused activities. During the day we will be planting hundreds of saplings and acorns that will one day replenish and grow the forest. You will learn about indigenous fruit trees, create a new footpath through the trampling of 350 pairs of feet, be introduced to our home away from the city and meet our knowledgeable staff who reside at the site.  In the evening, we will gather around a bonfire for a discussion on the role that architecture can and should play in the environmental issues that pose the most important challenges of our time, while enjoying a delicious barbecue, with drinks and music organised by Student Forum.

The schedule for Friday’s activities begins at 8:30am in Bedford Square where coaches (buses) will be waiting to transport 350 people to Dorset, free of charge. The journey will take 3.5 – 4 hours from London to Hooke Park and we ask that everyone brings a packed lunch to eat on the way along with plenty of drinking water for the day. There will be a stop at a service station to purchase food if required. Once we reach the forest each student and member of staff will plant a tree (you don’t need to bring the trees, they will be provided). Food and drinks will be provided in the evening. Vegan, vegetarian, lactose, nut and gluten-free options will be available, and if you have any other dietary restrictions you can notify the cooks upon arrival. The coaches will then transport everyone back to London, arriving at Bedford Square around 11.00pm. For shoes and clothes please wear long trousers and comfortable and sturdy footwear, especially no open toe shoes or sandals. It is important to check the weather for Hooke Park on the morning of the trip and to bring warm clothes and a waterproof jacket if it is predicted to rain or to be cold. All new students are expected to join this trip. If there is a personal or health impediment that prevents you from joining, please inform us as soon as possible, latest by Tuesday 17 September, at events@aaschool.ac.uk  so that we are not waiting for you on Friday morning. If you would like to learn more about Hooke Park please visit the AA Hooke Park website