I ddarllen y blog yma yng Nghymraeg, cliciwch yma os gwelwch yn dda.Guest blog by Sarah Mitchell, RSPB Cymru Education, Families and Youth OfficerWith the summer holidays behind us and Christmas soon on its way, what better way to enjoy the changing of the season than getting our coats out of the cupboard, dusting off the cobwebs and getting that magnifying glass out to look all the other wonderful wildlife around us.
Despite schools only being in their first few weeks of term, RSPB’s school sessions are already underway. We have successfully looked at what is living in and around St Bernadette’s Primary School in Cardiff during their Eco Week. We’ve brought families closer as they discover nature in their local community at Greenway Partnership Hub and we’ve blitzed Llwynfedw Gardens for wildlife with Birchgrove Primary school. We do not want schools without green spaces to miss out on our fantastic school sessions and we are lucky enough that most schools in Cardiff are within walking distance of some lovely green spaces.
As Education, Families and Youth Officer for RSPB Cymru, I have school bookings right the way through to November. I’m look forward to getting wet, muddy and satisfyingly exhausted as we look for tracks and signs, nuts and berries and of course an abundance of gulls.
Images: Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)
Schools are given the choice of three free outreach sessions and are able to book two of these within an academic year. These sessions allow children to discover and survey their school grounds looking for everything from the red spider mite to the mighty oak; developing their scientific knowledge, their numeracy skills and their wellbeing - and most importantly having fun with their friends.
Our first session - Big Schools Birdwatch - is a chance for schools to take part in Europe’s biggest and longest running birdwatch; a huge citizen science project across the whole of the UK. During January and February schools are able to join in the fun and can submit their results online.
Bioblitzes can then unearth some amazing results and help pupils investigate the habitats around the school to find and identify plants and animals adapted to different environments.
And last but not least, our Giving Nature a Home session is designed to help pupils map their school grounds for nature; identifying habitats and spaces for wildlife and spot endless opportunities to enjoy the birds, minibeasts and creepy crawlies on their patch. I’m looking forward to winter already!
If you’re interested in booking any of these free sessions for your school, please contact Sarah Mitchell on 02920 353 271 / sarah.mitchell@rspb.org.uk