Plymouth pupils to go wild in the woods to support biodiversity study
Date: Friday 25 October
Time: 10.30am
Place: Whitleigh Wood
Event: Children will be checking out the deadwood to see what lies within as part of Plymouth’s Woodland Week
Children from St Peter’s Primary School will be checking out the deadwood in Whitleigh Woods to see what lies within as part of Plymouth’s 'Woodland Week'.
They will carry out the survey to help get a picture of how healthy the woodland is and the information they gather will be used in the Biodiversity Records Centre and National Biodiversity Network.
The scientific study is one of a number of events taking place in Woodland Week (from 21 to 25 October) the week before half term and is a ‘roots and branches’ look at learning – getting out of the classroom and into the woods.
Plymouth City Council’s Stepping Stones to Nature team is working with the Conservation Volunteers and Plymouth Woodland Project, local schools Shakespeare Primary, St Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary, Brooks Green Centre for Learning and Knowle Primary to bring science and practical skills into the woods.
Activities include learning to tell which trees are which and to understand their life cycles, working out the height and age of trees, looking at trees as habitats for other plants and animals, nature trails, creative writing and arts.
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “Time after time, a committed group of people put on amazing activities for children and families around our city. Woodland Week is a way of applying science, maths and other school subjects to help us understand and enjoy outdoors even more.”
Over half-term there will be free autumn activities ranging from seed gathering, Shed on Wheels to autumn art and design to get children and their families outdoors. They take place on:
- Monday 28 October 11am to 2pm Forder Valley meet at Sheeptor Road (just off Novorossiysk Road, parking available).
- Tuesday 29 October 11am to 2pm, Woodland Wood, just off Ringmore Way, West Park.
- Wednesday 30 October 11am to 4pm – the All Ways Apples event at Devonport Guildhall in Ker Street, a-peeling activities for everyone with apple pressing, arts and crafts workshops, cookery demonstrations and information on planting and caring for apple trees and orchards. £1 adult, 50p child on the door.
- Thursday 31 October from 11am to 2pm Southway Valley – meet by the entrance just off Pendeen Crescent, near the miniature railway.
- Also Thursday from 10am until 4pm – coracle building at Lopwell Barn near Lopwell Dam nature reserve. There are guided tours of the reserve at 10.30am and 12.30am and a guided walk from Tamerton Foliot to the dam and back. To book email Dean.blagdon@nhs.net or call 01752 431638 or visit www.swlakestrust.org.uk/lakes-and-facilities/the-lakes/lopwell-dam
- Friday 1 November from 11am to 2pm at Ham Woods – meet at Ham House near Tewkesbury Close
- Sunday 3 November from 11am to 2pm at Efford Marsh – meet at the open space in between Deer Park and Military Road.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/naturereserves or www.plymouth.gov.uk/parksnatureevents. Follow Stepping Stones on Facebook at SteppingStones Plymouth, email steppingstones@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 307849.
And if the woods don’t appeal, check out the beaches and estuaries and discover the amazing marine world around Plymouth for free. From 11am to 3pm the beach rangers will be at:
- Wednesday 30 October – a seashore safari and afternoon beach clean and beach at Devil's Point Beach.
- Thursday 31 October Kinterbury Creek (Mudcott) for a day enjoying and learning more about nature.
Please wear warm outdoor clothes. For more information call 07943 241928, email rebhou@mba.ac.uk or visit www.bluesound.org.
