On Tuesday last week, 60 year 5 students visited Middleton Lakes to learn about our stream and the way water shapes the environment. Out on the flood plain of the River Tame I pointed out a ride at a neighbouring theme park. As we walked I heard a student say "Hey I can see 'Apocalypse' from everywhere we go". "Why's that" I ask. "Dunno, it's really tall, and there is nothing in the way and its really flat" and then ... in realisation... "oh it's the flood plain" and with excitement "is that what a flood plain looks like?!"
And on Friday, 30 Year 2 students visited Middleton to explore the different habitats and the animals that live there. I watched two students discover that the 'weird round thing' (found in the wood) was in fact a millipede as they held it in their hand and it slowly uncurled itself and tickled its way across their hand in search of the darkness of a sleeve. I was amazed as the 8 year olds separated different species of freshwater invertebrates and carefully observed them to make sure they correctly identified them. The students showed great promise for the future of conservation as they were not fooled into thinking a small animal that 'should be a tadpole' was in fact a tiny fish.
My week ended happily with the words of a student, literally bouncing with glee, his knees wet from kneeling at the pond and his cheeks ruddy from the fresh air saying " What an Epic day! I want to live here". LUCY RICHARDS, RSPB Field Teacher