Conserving the JOhn Muir AWARd

Form 3 have been working hard inside and out of the classroom, discovering the John Muir Country Park and learning about John Muir.  Their Biology lessons this term will focus upon habitats in general and how wildlife is adapted to different environments.  They will be completing a piece of fieldwork at John Muir Country Park, comparing two areas of the park looking at the plants and animals found there.  They will also be examining how the plants and wildlife may change nearer and further away from a footpath.  Their results will be posted later this term.

As the ongoing CONSERVE element of the award the children have been involved in several different activities to help conserve the local school environment as well as their chosen 'Wild Place' at John Muir Country Park.

Form 3 have already been down to John Muir Park to complete a litter survey and they will be completing two further 'Litter Clean Up' sessions this term.  The aim of this is to help tidy areas of the Park, having thought about how litter can be harmful both to the eye and the wildlife within the park.  Photgraphs and information following their litter pick will be posted later in May.

Within the local school community, the children have all adopted a plot of garden within the school grounds and will be tending to these this term making the area inside the Walled Garden a more attractive area for wildlife this Spring/Summer. 

Click to link to photos of the children gardening.

In the classroom, the children are watching the Life Cycle of Butterflies and also of Ladybirds in the hope to release both insects into their gardens.  Maybe they will then see both species more abundant over the next few years as they lay eggs within the gardens.

The caterpillars just a few days old.  Further pictures of their life cycle will be added at regular intervals.

Recycling has also been a major part of the conservation element and as part of a school aiming to complete the Eco Schools Gold Level, the children are actively involved in recycling not only papers but other goods including aluminium and bottles.  Also new this term, the children will be made more aware of composting and compost bins will soon be located within the gardens.