Willow Class were so relieved that after all of the rain at the weekend, Wednesday was bathed in glorious sunshine ready for their trip.
They began the day with Paula, the Wildlife Ranger, discussing the importance of the habitat that Ashdown Forest provides for a diverse range of creatures and the interdependence of the food webs and chains that create a delicate balance for the eco system there.
As they set off on their walk, the dew made the funnel spider webs glisten, so some of the children tried to see if they could tempt any out of their burrows by gently tapping the webs with a blade of grass!
As they walked through the forest they were allowed to collect tiny samples of grasses, leaves and petals to show what a diverse range of colours exist in nature. The children were very aware and only took pieces of plants that were the size of a ‘caterpillars nibble’.
They played several games throughout the day that illustrated the way in which insects and animals reply on their habitats to live and thrive.
They were lucky enough to see a red kite, and some of the children passed an adder enjoying the sunshine amongst the heather.
One of the favourite parts of the day was exploring the woodlands using a mirror to find parts of the forest that they don’t normally see. The children enjoyed this birds eye view of the canopy and finding the dark and shady corners for insects to hide in.
At the end of the day the children designed their own creature that would be able to live in a world where the environment is constantly changing. Many of the children wanted to create an animal that was able to eat plastic to help clean up the oceans and landscape!
Thank you to all of the parents who helped with the transport so that we could keep this trip at zero cost.
