It’s a picnic taking your lessons in the woodlands of north Wales – as youngsters from Ysgol Llandulas near Abergele discovered when they took their teddy bears along to join in the fun.
The group of five to seven-year-olds built special shelters for their furry friends – and then set to learning more about the mini-beasts of Bodlondeb Woodlands.
“The trick about learning in the open air is that it doesn’t feel like learning to the youngsters,” said Forestry Commission Wales education officer Helen John, who led the class.
“So as well as having a great time, they learn about habitats, comfort, shelter from the weather and camouflage by building shelters for their cuddly toys.
“Then the mini beast hunt helps them to study insects – how many legs they have, whether they have wings and why and whereabouts they live, what they feed on.”
And after carefully studying their captured specimens, the boys and girls made their own replicas out of clay – which have been left in the woodlands for other visitors to enjoy.
The special event was organised as part of national ‘Bring your Bear’ by the FC Wales Woodlands for Learning team in Conwy and Flint which works in a number of ways:
- Directly with groups offering curriculum-linked woodland visits
- Helping teachers, group leaders and others to use their local woodlands for learning
- Supporting the development and delivery of Forest School
- Co-ordinating Forest Education Initiative (FEI) cluster groups
“Whatever age and ability, from Foundation Phase to university level, clubs, groups and societies … our Woodlands for Learning team is there, keen to help educationalists make the most of their local woodlands,” said Helen.
Contact: Helen John, FC Wales education officer – Tel 08456 040845
NOTES TO EDITORS
The FC Wales Woodlands for Learning team delivers woodland-based learning experience throughout Wales and supports the development and delivery of Forest School. It also facilitates the Forest Education Initiative on behalf of its partners.
Forestry Commission Wales is the government department responsible for forestry policy and looks after the 320,000 acres (130,000 ha) of public forests owned by the Welsh Assembly Government.
More information on the woodlands of Wales is available on www.forestry.gov.uk/wales