NATURE QUEST July 24th 2016
The day in a nutshell
'Nature Quest', held this year on July 24th, is one of our 'big three' events of the year at the Park, along with 'Paws' and 'Kites', and it takes an enormous amount of support from a large group of helpers to make it possible, all orchestrated by Nikki, the Chair of FoWCP, who was 'Event Organiser'. It is a FREE family day for children to explore some of the nature of the Park, with a range of different activities to try, as below.List of Activities
- Pond dipping - always very popular!!! This year, the main 'catches' were ramshorn snails and newt tadpoles ('newtpoles'), but just as we were closing, two enormous fully grown newts were caught. [Of course, all the catches were safely returned to the pond after examination and identification.]
- Bug Hunting - using the sweep nets provided by The Friends, the stand-out catches were a number of crickets and grasshoppers, including several examples of the Roselle's Cricket, which is quite a rarity nationally, but something of a speciality in this part of Essex. Our two experts, Barbara & Richard from the Wickford Wildlife Society were delighted to find two Marbled White Butterflies amongst the other butterflies caught. [Of course, all the catches were safely returned to the grass meadow after examination and identification.]
- Seed Planting. This year, the children were invited to decorate their pots with a 'face' before planting the cress seeds. As the seeds grew, it would resemble 'hair' on top of the face! Children learnt that in order to grow, seeds need light, water, warmth, and soil
- Willow weaving. David, the weaver, showed the children how to make simple ornaments from willow sticks. He also had some splendid woven baskets that he had made earlier on display and for sale.
- Fishing Game. This game was based on the various species of fish that can be found in the Park's extensive lake; the children had a rod and line to see what they could catch in the scaled-down 'lake' - well, actually, a children's paddling pool!
- Balloon Modelling. Children love the balloon models of things like flowers and dogs. Only some of the balloons burst!
- Nature-related craft activity, including Origami and 'a bird on a pencil'
- Make a 'Hotel' for Solitary Bees
- Make a fatball bird feeder - made around a fir cone!
- Learn all about bees
- Become a 'Nature Detective'!!!!
Our grateful thanks
We are really grateful for all the help offered, not only with running the activities on the day, but also with the setting up and clearing away. Those who helped to run the activities included:- Jill & Michelle ('Meet and Greet')
- Wendy and Netty, (Craft activity)
- Mike, Martin T, Georgina, and Sarah, who all helped Ranger Mark with the Pond Dipping
- Sue, Mick, and Sheila, who helped with the Solitary Bee Hotel making
- Canon Jane, who helped with the pot decoration associated with the seed-planting
- Dennis, who did kitchen / refreshment duties all day
- Our colleagues from the Wickford Wildlife Society - Richard and Barbara (Bug Hunting), helped by Tom
- Martin S (Origami)
- Stuart (Baloon Modelling)
- Richard, Frances and a colleague from the Essex Beekeepers' Association (Bee Keeping and candle making)
- David (Willow Weaver)
- Anabel (Fishing Game)
- Margaret, who issued the 'Nature Detective' Certificates and managed the 'Wall of Fame'
- Chengs Donuts, who ensured that all attendees were fed and watered during the day
Photo Gallery 2016
Between us, we took 176 photos on the day. Here are some of our favourites. |
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| Early in the day, some of our stall holders are setting up their stalls ..... |
..... and some more |
Showing some of the stalls that were managed by The Friends - from left to right: seed planting and decorate the pot; making a bee hotel for solitary bees, making a fat ball bird feeder |
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| Some of the activities were indoors. Here is one of our helpers, Martin, demonstrating the art of Origami |
One of the children making an origami bird |
Origami was not the only craft activity on offer - Wendy and Netty were supervising a lot of sticking and colouring! |
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| Lots of things to stick.... |
... sticking them.... |
.... the finished product! A bird perched on the top of a pencil! |
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| At times, the pond dipping was so popular that short queues formed..... |
Pond dipping in action |
Pond dipping - intense concentration! |
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| Just one more go, please..... |
Examining and identifying the catch |
Who would have thought all those little creatures live in the pond! |
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| I caught those! |
The main stand-out species: a lovely ramshorn snail, and a newt tadpole, sometimes referred to as a 'newtpole'. |
Possibly the star attraction - an adult smooth newt, one of three that were caught just before closing time. [Of course, all the captives, no matter how big or small, were safely returned to the pond after
identification and observation.] |
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| Bug hunting - a great excuse for swishing nets through the long grass! |
Bug hunting was very popular..... |
... and it was still very popular |
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| You didn't have to be a child to take a net and have a go! |
Bug hunting appealed to all ages..... |
... as I said |
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| One of our experts, Barbara - from the Wickford Wildlife Society - helping to identify the catch. |
Today's lesson: crickets have very long antennae, grasshoppers much shorter ones. |
A very 'stylish' catch! |
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| Wow! |
OK, so this one is 'cheating'. There really were some Marbled White butterflies caught during the day, but the only one 'caught' by the camera was on the ID sheet.... |
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| Making a fir cone bird feeder |
It was a really messy activity - which the children loved! [As did the garden birds, after the feeder was taken home and hung out!] |
The finished product - hang it from a tree or bird table and watch the birds flock down - in particular, blue tits, great tits, and starlings |
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| The fishing game: our wooden 'fish' were a bit easier to catch compared with the real ones they represented in the lake. |
Or were they? |
Richard and Annabelle were busy all day! |
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| Think of bees and you probably think of Bumble Bees, and hives, and honey - no, that was on a different stall! Many species of bees are 'solitary', and nest individually in their own tiny hole. They can
be attracted by providing a 'bee hotel' - and you could make one at Nature Quest! |
Intense concentration - and intricate work requires nimble fingers. |
The finished product - hang it somewhere sheltered and wait for the bees to take up residence! |
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| The first stage of our 'seed planting' activity - decorating the pot |
Dorothy demonstrating the activity |
First step - fill the pot with compost.... |
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| ... then sprinkle on the seeds.... |
... and this is how they looked. Don't forget to water them well, collect your pot as you left the event for home, and then leave them in a place where they would catch plenty of light. |
A short while later, at home - the finished article! And what is more, it tasted delicious! |
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| Making - or should that be blowing - balloon animals. Stuart, with his pump, raw materials, and some finished articles |
Stuart has an audience..... |
... and another audience! |
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The Essex Beekepers Association had a stall at which they explained just how important bees are, and also all about how honey is made. |
And the offer that really attracted the crowds, not to mention the cameras - the opportunity to dress as a beekeeper.... |
Two more beekeepers.... |
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They also had jars of delicious Essex honey for sale! |
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| The willow weaving activity was very popular. Here David shows a group of children how it is done. |
Having a go at a simple willow weaving task. [See below for the finished article!] |
Samples of the beutiful end products. It takes a lot of skill and practice to achieve results like this, but it is huge fun and very satisfying, so why not give it a go? |
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| At the end of the visit to the event, having collected all your 'stamps' from the various activities, Margaret completed your 'Nature Detective' certificate .... |
... and here, two 'nature Detectives' proudly add their names to the roll of honour board..... |
... and here they are with their solitary bee houses and willow-weaving! |
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| All this sticking, folding, catching, moulding, planting, dressing up was enough to make anyone feel peckish..... |
... so it's time for a picnic.... |
.... or even another picnic! |