Above: our view from Hambledon Hill on a latest stroll.
For 10yrs now we have now had the pleasure of internet hosting St Michaels college from Bournemouth. They first got here after we nonetheless had the cows and had been allowed to do tractor and trailer rides which had been the spotlight of the day. We might drive them up ridgeway lane sitting on hay bales, again to again, looking on the hedges. They cherished the bumps and swing of the trailer alongside the monitor.
With no cows and no tractor and trailer rides, except on a ‘particularly’ designed trailer, we have now to be extra creative to excite the youngsters for his or her foray into the countryside. After they first arrive they’re break up into 4 teams for ‘duties’ planting, harvesting, tying up Tomatoes, planting Broad Bean. While strolling to their duties they get an opportunity to eat Mange Tout pea flowers/lettuce/spinach/chard and chive flowers. Each 15mins I ring an old style bell and so they change over. Then its two teams one watching Emsie Sharp blowing glass and the opposite a ‘device’ completion.
After lunch sitting in a area with a very good view of Hambledon, its all the way down to the woods to play and that is now their spotlight. I give one group a speak about how straightforward it’s to be a guardian of wildlife in their very own gardens nonetheless small. On show I’ve a log, sensible for harbouring beetles and different bugs, a pile of brick/rocks/damaged tiles good for sluggish worms, toads and perhaps even a grass snake, a small trying bonfire that hedgehogs, mice and different small mammals love to cover or hibernate in and lastly an insect wigwam. That is made with small twigs caught into the bottom stuffed with dried grass/leaves and topped with a terracotta plant pot. Glorious for ladybirds, earwigs and even small moths. An important factor is to go away it as undisturbed as doable and sometimes flip the log over, choose the pot up and simply observe what’s seen. We are able to all be wildlife guardians not simply David Attenborough.
The opposite group make a path of lengthy pink material hanging from bushes and conceal deep in our woodland. They must be silent which for 8yr olds is tough however when they’re its magical as they ‘pay attention’ to the bushes. The woodland bursts with screams of pleasure, which will need to have been heard all through Baby Okeford, when they’re discovered. Then they simply benefit from the freedom of ‘working’. It’s fairly a giant yr group and we had them Mon/Tues/Thurs and Mon once more.
Hope you noticed the point out of Mange Tout peas that can be prepared subsequent week and we’re already promoting the primary of the Broad Beans. Phil is again from Japan and within the farm store once more and can you should definitely regal you with a story or two from is travels.
