Make a point of visiting us weekly!
Organisations:
Essex Wildlife Trust
Essex Wildlife Trust
Essex Wildlife Trust,
Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, Essex CO5 7RZ
01621 862990
admin@essexwt.org.uk www.essexwt.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 21006
Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, Essex CO5 7RZ
01621 862990
admin@essexwt.org.uk www.essexwt.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 21006
Autumn Newsletter (with schools in mind)
As the Autumn term starts, it’s time to look at school wildlife areas, harvest fruit and crops, tidy up and trim willow domes. Below are a few ideas to help.
Willow dome winter trim
Book your school in now for a winter trim and tidy up of your willow dome. It is best to cut willow in the winter once the leave have all dropped, to encourage growth next year. We ask for a donation of £50 plus travel and we will take the willow away with us.
Planting living willow features
Willow likes to have its feet wet to grow, so it’s best to plant in the winter term, when the ground is wet and soft. Children can help to build domes, fences, tunnels and sculptures. We ask for a donation of £200 plus travel for a full day working with willow and £100 for materials. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Minibeasts indoors and out
During the summer, minibeasts go deep into the soil to avoid the heat. Now is the time to go out of the classroom and investigate school grounds, searching for millipedes, slugs, snails, spiders and much more. We can visit schools, bringing bugs with us or showing pupils where to hunt in the school grounds. Equipment and knowledge is provided. To book contact Laura Harvey, Senior Schools Outreach Officer, laurah@essexwt.org.uk
Bushcrafts, fires and den building
Colder weather lends itself to a good fire. Pupils can toast marshmallows and learn about fire safety. If you haven’t got room at your school for a fire, bushcrafts are a great way for pupils to learn about tool use and safety, making pencils and beads out of elder. Pupils can also learn to build dens, which is a great team building and problem solving exercise.
During the summer, minibeasts go deep into the soil to avoid the heat. Now is the time to go out of the classroom and investigate school grounds, searching for millipedes, slugs, snails, spiders and much more. We can visit schools, bringing bugs with us or showing pupils where to hunt in the school grounds. Equipment and knowledge is provided. To book contact Laura Harvey, Senior Schools Outreach Officer, laurah@essexwt.org.uk
Bushcrafts, fires and den building
Colder weather lends itself to a good fire. Pupils can toast marshmallows and learn about fire safety. If you haven’t got room at your school for a fire, bushcrafts are a great way for pupils to learn about tool use and safety, making pencils and beads out of elder. Pupils can also learn to build dens, which is a great team building and problem solving exercise.
Pond Clearance
By late Autumn/Winter newt eggs will have hatched and it is safe to clear out excess pond plants. Ponds should have 1/3 plant cover to allow enough light into the pond and prevent it becoming stagnant. We can work with the children to do this and then search for minibeasts in the pond. Alternatively, we can help to create ponds by lining and helping to fill the ponds. We do not do hard landscaping but will help to choose suitable plants and make the area accessible and safe for children.
Hibernaculums and Minibeast Hotels
During the winter, amphibians and reptiles leave ponds and wetlands for hibernaculums, a vital habitat for these species, which remain faithful to them their whole lives. They provide shelter from the frost and warmth for spring emergence. When these habitats are lost, it often results in the loss of species from that site. They are used October to February, so now is the perfect time to create one with pupils. Minibeasts also need a home over winter, so why not make one of our attractive and wildlife friendly Minibeast Hotels, using old apple crates. Each structure takes half a day and cost £120 donation plus travel. Minibeast Hotel materials cost £45. Contact us and book now!
Hibernaculums and Minibeast Hotels
During the winter, amphibians and reptiles leave ponds and wetlands for hibernaculums, a vital habitat for these species, which remain faithful to them their whole lives. They provide shelter from the frost and warmth for spring emergence. When these habitats are lost, it often results in the loss of species from that site. They are used October to February, so now is the perfect time to create one with pupils. Minibeasts also need a home over winter, so why not make one of our attractive and wildlife friendly Minibeast Hotels, using old apple crates. Each structure takes half a day and cost £120 donation plus travel. Minibeast Hotel materials cost £45. Contact us and book now!
Foraging for Food
Now is the time that apples, plums, berries and nuts are all ripe and ready to pick. If you have apple trees in your school, why not have an orchard day, with pupil trying different varieties of apples, decorating trees and going on a tree trail. If you have an old orchard, why not visit the Biodiversity website and register your orchard: http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk/Default.aspx?pageid=91 . We can also come into schools and investigate the grounds to find wild food to eat and cook, such as blackberries, nettles, quinces, hazel nuts, crab apples and plums.
If you are interested in any of the activities above, please contact:
Now is the time that apples, plums, berries and nuts are all ripe and ready to pick. If you have apple trees in your school, why not have an orchard day, with pupil trying different varieties of apples, decorating trees and going on a tree trail. If you have an old orchard, why not visit the Biodiversity website and register your orchard: http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk/Default.aspx?pageid=91 . We can also come into schools and investigate the grounds to find wild food to eat and cook, such as blackberries, nettles, quinces, hazel nuts, crab apples and plums.
If you are interested in any of the activities above, please contact:
Laura Harvey
Senior Schools Outreach Officer
Email: laurah@essexwt.org.uk
Telephone: 01621 862 992
Mobile 07533376783
Senior Schools Outreach Officer
Email: laurah@essexwt.org.uk
Telephone: 01621 862 992
Mobile 07533376783
Susan Allen BSc
Schools Outreach Officer
Office (Tuesdays only) 01621 862 992
Mobile 07715994503