Welcome to the woodland and t ree discovery trail – In groups find and gather the following information on 5 different species: leaf shape, name, tree shape, age (using girth of the tree), bark type, height. The students will also look at some tree sections and count annual growth rings.
Timing: 1 hour
Age Range: 4 - 12 yrs (KS 1 and 2)

Woodland and Hedgerow wildflower activities - identification , distribution, abundance and looking at colour, flower structure, pollination method, seed structure and dispersal method as re levant to age group.
Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range : 4 - 12 yrs (KS 1,2 and 3)

Hedgerow Activities - Counting the number of species in a section of hedge and using the information to find out how old it is; identifying minibeasts and wildflowers in the hedge to look at its wildlife diversity. Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range : 7 - 16 yrs (KS 2, 3 and 4) - we can also cater for A level and College students

A) Woodland habitat and community study (Who lives in the wood?) - Finding out about the plants, animals and microhabitats present, measuring physical factors (temperature, light levels etc) and looking at a couple of species – role in the community, distribution, abundance, adaptations etc in detail.

B) Habitat comparison study – As with the woodland habitat study but this time looking at and comparing two contrasting habitats and communities eg. deciduous and coniferous woodland .
Timing: half day or full day
Age Range: 7 - 16 yrs (KS 2, 3 and 4) – we can also cater for A level and college students

Creative woodland activities

•  Build a Tree and woodland ecosystem pupil modelling games
•  Sky eyes
•  Meet a Tree blindfold challenge
•  Kim's woodland memory game
•  Seasonal nature trail , natural treasure hunt and journey boards or mapsticks
•  Animal tracks and clues discovery trail
•  Food web game
•  Autumn leaf and seed discovery - colour and variety
•  Woodland symphony

Age range: For all ages

•  Woodland minibeast hunt wit h magnifying glasses , ID charts and keys, pooters if suitable (binocular microscopes also available back at the G amekeepers C ottage) – range of animals, animal adaptations, life cycles, food chains and webs, pyramids of numbers —as relevant to age range.

•  Tree dwellers discovery – using beating sticks and white sheets we bring creatures from up high down to the ground to identify them (as with the minibeast hunt) .

Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range : 4 - 16 yrs (KS 1,2, 3 and 4) - we can also cater for post 16 students.

Who's in the water? – Freshwater minibeast hunt with nets, white trays, magnifying glasses ID charts and keys, (binocular microscopes also if desired) – range of animals, animal adaptations, life cycles, food chains and webs, pyramids of numbers (as relevant to age level).
Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range : 4 - 16 yrs (KS 1,2, 3 and 4) - we can also cater for post 16 students

Biological indicators of the health of the stream – using the species found to assess how clean the water is.
Pond or stream habitat and community study - similar framework to the woodland study (or look at both and compare them for an extended study)
Timing: half day or full day
Age Range : 4 - 16 yrs (KS 1,2, 3 and 4) - we can also cater for post 16 students

Parkland tree and wildflower trail – Team challenge which involves finding certain trees, answering questions about them , identifying some meadow wildflowers and looking at their structure.

The seed germination game – a fun activity that helps reinforce the five

things that seeds need to be able to grow into plants.
Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range: 6 - 16 yrs (KS 2, 3 and 4)

Meadow minibeast hunt with sweep nets — structure as with woodland minibeast hunt.
Timing: 1 - 2 hours
Age Range: 6 - 16 yrs (KS 2, 3 and 4) - we can also cater for post 16 students

Meadow habitat and community study - similar framework to woodland study

Effect of grazing / mowing / slope / aspect on species abundance and distribution – ecological studies using quadrat and transect sampling technique s.
Timing: Full day or half day
Age Range: 12 - 18 yrs (KS 3, 4 and 5) - we can cater for post 16 students

•  Seasonal Natural Treasure hunt and nature mosaics
•  Creature Features
•  Creature creativity
•  Photo challenge
•  Collective nature poems
•  Blindfold walk with a partner -along a varied route
•  Human Camera pair activity
•  The listening game
•  Caterpillar Camouflage game
•  The Matchbox challenge
•  Natural cocktails
•  M ystery `touch boxes'
•  Mystery object challenge
•  Fun `run around' games – Animal scramble ; What animal am I? ; Noah's Ark ; Bat and Moth ; Team wildlife quiz , Animal Clue Game.

Environmental Art Activities