• Introduction to birds on the farm with video footage in the Education Centre. View pictures from live cameras inside nest boxes around the farm.
• Spot the bird game in the orchard with “hidden” pictures of birds that live on the farm.
• Groups visit the Bird Hide on the farm to watch birds visiting the feeders we have set up. Use spotter guides to identify the birds and learn how to use binoculars which we loan out. Try to record the birds plummage by colouring in simple templates.
• Learn about the Cirl Bunting our rarest bird.
Timing: 1-2 hours, Spring Summer for nesting birds. Age Range : KS2, KS3,KS4 Relevant Subjects: Science, Geography, Literacy,
Mini-beasts
• Introduction in the Education Centre to organic farming and why we have more invertebrates than on conventional farms that use pesticides etc.
• Walk the Nature Trail and meadow with sweep nets looking for mini-beasts. Identify types of invertebrates with simple spotter sheets. Try to capture a Great Green Bush Cricket.
Groups locate and identify numbered plants/trees/fruits/seeds along the Nature Trail at the farm. They are given spotter sheets to identify the flower or leaf which are tailored to the plants they will find. This activity can be adapted to most times of year and age of group. Students can work in small groups.
Timing: 1 to 1.5 hours Age Range: KS2, KS3, KS4, A level Relevant Subjects: Science, Literacy
Letterboxing
Groups of up to 15 children locate 10 animal and plant stamps hidden in boxes along the Nature Trail using a clues sheet. They are given cards to stamp on.
Timing: 1 hour Age Range: Primary Relevant Subjects: Science, Literacy
Relevant Topics from the QCA schemes of work:
Primary Science:
Unit 2B: Plants and animals in the local environment
Unit 2C: Variation
Unit 4B: Habitats
Unit 5B: Life cycles
Unit 6A: Interdependence and adaptation
Secondary Science:
Unit 7C: Environment and feeding relationships
Unit 7D: Variation and classification
Unit 8D: Ecological relationships
Unit 9D: Plants for food
