somerset schools and community project report...resources, training and school visits throughout the...
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Somerset Schools
and Community Project 2007-2010
End of Project Report
Summary
The Somerset Schools & Community Project originated as a follow on project from the
previous HLF funded Avalon Marshes Field Teaching Project. The project has been
composed of two parts – Bird Friendly Schools (BFS), which aimed to take the interest
shown by schools in the natural environment into the schools themselves and Community
Events to enthuse and engage local people about the natural and man-made heritage of the
Avalon Marshes. Volunteers were recruited across Somerset (including NE Somerset) and
contact was made with more than 30% of primary schools in the area. All participating
schools were linked with a local volunteer and received 3 visits from this volunteer during the
year. Generally volunteers worked with a single class, but this varied with the most
enthusiastic volunteers working with many classes in a single school.
Volunteers Volunteers were recruited for the project from many different sources. After an initial ‘quiet
period’ when few enquiries occurred, there has been a constant stream of people wanting to
be involved. Press releases (local Press & RSPB Birds magazine), posters on Reserves
(NE’s Shapwick Heath & RSPB’s Ham Wall & West Sedgemoor) and posters up at events
gave us a strong team of volunteers to support our events. Direct Mailing of Somerset
RSPB members was successful in recruiting the volunteers who wanted to visit schools.
Volunteers have come from many different backgrounds. Many were former teachers or had
worked in schools. The expertise and support these individuals were able to give the rest of
the team helped contribute to the overall success of the project. Several volunteers were at
the start of their career and they used the project as a way of gaining experience in public
engagement roles. By the end of the project several of these volunteers had gained
employment in the environment world - Anna Graham started as a BFS volunteer and admin
assistant for the project and took over the project management for the final 5 months of the
project. Alexia Hollinshead, who was also a BFS volunteer and admin assistant, gained
employment from the RSPB at Arne Reserve and has since moved on to Public Affairs
Officer (Visitors on Reserves) at RSPB’s regional office in Exeter. BFS volunteer Craig
Burrows has since been working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust and Jo Collett has secured
a contract with the Environment Agency.
Other volunteers have become involved in other voluntary roles with both RSPB & Natural
England. These have included practical conservation tasks (Suzie Fowler joined the
Shapwick Heath Green Team), admin roles (Rebecca Wilcox helped with complex IT tasks),
building and renovating the Avalon Marshes Lifelong Learning Centre (Neville Henderson &
Stewart Gould) and species’ monitoring (Alison Mackenzie on Shapwick Heath). The
expertise of the volunteer group were greatly enhanced by several professionals involved in
the environmental world who were keen to develop links with Natural England & RSPB’s
community work in Somerset – volunteers included Lucy Vincent, a director of Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust and Stephen Moss producer and author for BBC Natural History Unit.
By the end of the project a total of 55 volunteers had been recruited for working in schools
and a further 92 individuals had participated in community project events. The total number
of volunteer hours amounted to an incredible 6396.5 and the project could not have
achieved this level of success without them.
Resources, Training and School Visits
Throughout the project regular ‘training events‘ were held
for volunteers going into schools. These proved very
popular and many volunteers used them as a networking
opportunity to link with other volunteers in their areas. The
training enabled a consistent approach to be adopted by
all volunteers going into schools. Volunteers were
equipped with full sets of BFS resources (see right) that
had been previously ‘tried and tested’ with primary aged
pupils – thus ensuring all visits were of a high quality.
The wide range of different events that occurred during the
project period meant that no specific training could be
given to this group of volunteers. Generally new
volunteers were linked with experienced ones when
helping for the first time.
Statistics The initial target for the project of 91 schools was achieved early in the second year. By the
third year more than 30% of schools in Somerset had links with the project and most schools
were involved for the entire three year period.
Number of Schools involved – 122
Number of Bird Friendly School Volunteers – 55
Number of School Visits by Volunteers - 486
Number of Children engaged in Schools (many more at
Events) – 5197
Total Volunteer Hours in Bird Friendly Schools – 3209
A staggering total of 41 large events (not including guided walks) have taken place over the
three year period, which has enabled the vital engagement of thousands of children and their
families in the area.
Number of Volunteers involved in Events - 92
Total Volunteer Hours at Events – 3187.5
Community Events Wild Days Out (4 per year) - families bring their children along for a free day of wildlife
themed games and activities based at the Avalon Marshes Centre e.g. Pond Dipping,
Nature-themed Art and Trailer Rides onto Shapwick Heath NNR.
Avalon 24 (annual) – 24 hours of guided walks across 5 nature reserves of the Avalon
Marshes. Aimed at everyone from 1 to 101 encouraging them to get out and experience the
rich natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon Marshes. Joint venture between RSPB,
Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT)
and The Hawk and Owl Trust.
Avalon Marshes Open Day (annual) - families
bring their children along for a free day of wildlife
themed activities based at the Avalon Marshes
Centre e.g. Puppet Shows, Story-telling and
Willow Weaving. Joint venture between RSPB,
Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust and The
Hawk and Owl Trust. The Environment Agency
also attended.
School Days (2-4 per year) - 250 children in 2nd year of project and 450 in 3rd year so far.
Local schools are invited to attend a day of nature themed workshops based at the Avalon
Marshes Centre and on Shapwick Heath NNR.
The project and Avalon Marshes Reserves have also been promoted at external events such
as a Green Fair in the local town of Glastonbury.
Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group A wildlife group has been set up for RSPB Wildlife Explorer and Wildlife
Trust Watch Members in the area (youth membership for both
organisations), although non-members are also welcome. The Group is
jointly run by RSPB, Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust and aims
to engage and enthuse youngsters and their families about their local
environment, in particular the natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon
Marshes. It is being lead by three representatives, one from each
organisation and seven assistant leaders, who will run a mixture of indoor
and outdoor activities throughout the year. Activities will be based partly at
our Lifelong Learning Centre at the Avalon Marshes Centre and partly out
on our National Nature Reserves of Ham Wall (RSPB), Shapwick Heath
(NE) and Westhay Moor (SWT). The first meet in June 2010 was very
successful with 45 people attending. The Group will continue to run
following the end of the project.
Local Media Links
The events and Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group have benefitted greatly from the excellent
and loyal media coverage of Glastonbury FM, which
promotion.
RSPB Birds Magazine advertised the
Volunteer Roles.
Mendip Times, Central Somerset Gazette,
played a part in advertising Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.
A monthly activity and competition called ‘Bird
Polden Post (read by 100s of villagers across the Polden Hills and The Bridge Magazine
(read by the residents of Burrowbridge village).
engage and inform them of birds
to be run by a volunteer following the end of the p
Response from Volunteers The response from BFS volunteers has been very
enjoyed their visits and benefitted greatly from the training
the volunteers have also made
the children, teachers and in some cases entire
Frances Snelling (BFS Volunteer)
“They certainly took the birdwatch to heart
childrens’ certificates home to write in their names and there was a
'presentation' during school assembly next morning
occasion!”
“I made my last visit to Wookey School yesterday, which
keen school as a whole, not just 'my class' and have a wildlife area with pond etc which is
being extended”.
The
children continuing to count and watch the birds in t
playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local
throughout the year. S
RSPB Wildlife Explorers. T
experience:
Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary School)
“Thanks for coming into our school and working with the children they really enjoyed learning about all the different birds, I did too!”
The events and Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group have benefitted greatly from the excellent
of Glastonbury FM, which will continue to be involved in future
Magazine advertised the project including the Bird Friendly School and Event
, Central Somerset Gazette, Fosse Way Magazine and The Word
Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.
A monthly activity and competition called ‘Bird Brain’ has been started in local press
Polden Post (read by 100s of villagers across the Polden Hills and The Bridge Magazine
(read by the residents of Burrowbridge village). This is aimed at young families in order to
engage and inform them of birds they are likely to see in their local area. This will continue
following the end of the project.
Response from Volunteers, Schools and Event Participants
olunteers has been very positive; they have
and benefitted greatly from the training. Many of
made a lasting and very positive impact on
and in some cases entire schools:
Frances Snelling (BFS Volunteer) –
inly took the birdwatch to heart - Hilary took all the
certificates home to write in their names and there was a
'presentation' during school assembly next morning - so quite an
I made my last visit to Wookey School yesterday, which went very well - they are a very
keen school as a whole, not just 'my class' and have a wildlife area with pond etc which is
The response from schools has also been very positive with
children continuing to count and watch the birds in t
playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local
throughout the year. Some have even been inspired to
RSPB Wildlife Explorers. Teachers have also got a lot out of the
experience:
Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary School) –
“Thanks for coming into our school and working with the children they really enjoyed learning about all the different birds, I did too!”
The events and Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group have benefitted greatly from the excellent
will continue to be involved in future
Bird Friendly School and Event
The Word have all
Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.
Brain’ has been started in local press: The
Polden Post (read by 100s of villagers across the Polden Hills and The Bridge Magazine
This is aimed at young families in order to
they are likely to see in their local area. This will continue
Participants
they are a very
keen school as a whole, not just 'my class' and have a wildlife area with pond etc which is
schools has also been very positive with
children continuing to count and watch the birds in their
playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local areas)
been inspired to become
have also got a lot out of the
Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary
“Thanks for coming into our school and working with the children they really enjoyed learning about all the different birds, I did too!”
As a result of successful visits, some of the teachers are keen for
volunteers to continue their links with the schools and many of the
volunteers will do so in conjunction with the RSPB’s Great Crane
Project. This will be vital in maintaining these
positive links with the community.
Event volunteers (some of which are also BFS
volunteers) and participants continue to enjoy
the real sense of community spirit, as well as
the fun and educational activities, which make
our events so successful. We are lucky
enough to have volunteers who are able to
really engage and inspire the public with their knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural
world. Some families return again and again to the events, they just cannot seem to get
enough!
Partnership Links Throughout the project the excellent link between RSPB & Natural
England on the Somerset Levels has been maintained & developed.
With time, other organisations have also linked into many of the events
that have been arranged. In particular The Hawk & Owl Trust have
joined in with many ‘Wild Days Out’ and their support for the two Avalon
24’s has been tremendous. The Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset
County Council have also participated with events and their input has
increased the range of activities offered to the public tremendously.
Two volunteer BBQ’s were arranged over the project period with many Somerset Schools &
Community Project volunteers attending and sharing experiences & expertise.
Staffing The first two and a half years of the project were managed by Simon Beard, whose
experience in education and existing contacts with local schools were invaluable to the
success of the project. Simon’s enthusiasm and dedication were second to none. Following
a move to work for Natural England as a community Outreach Advisor at the same site, the
end of the project was managed by Anna Graham. Anna Graham was and continued to be
a BFS volunteer for the remainder of the project and had also helped Simon Beard with
community events and project administration prior to taking over as manager. Due to the
strong partnership link between the organisations, Simon Beard and Anna Graham have
worked together on school visits and community events.
Thank You Event for Volunteers and Staff
In recognition of the overwhelming contribution and dedication of volunteers and staff
members to the project, an End of Project Celebration and Thank You Event was organised.
This was held three weeks prior to the end of the project and was a great success with guest
speakers Stephen Moss (BBC Natural History Unit) and Chris Sperring (nationally renowned
naturalist from The Hawk and Owl Trust). Everyone really appreciated the gesture.
Legacy and the Future
• Thousands of children and their families have been engaged and inspired in schools
and at community events through overwhelming commitment of volunteers and staff.
• Thanks to help from volunteers, there are now two permanent classroom facilities
(Lifelong Learning Centre) at the Avalon Marshes Centre site, which will continue to
be used for school and family events, training courses and staff meetings.
• Resources left over from the BFS visits, those created for games and activities and
those purchased over the course of the project, will continue to be used at
community events.
• A number of the BFS volunteers are continuing their links with their schools through
the RSPB’s Great Crane Project and/or are volunteering as Assistant Leaders for the
Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group.
• All community events will continue to be run by Natural England and neighbouring
conservation partners and the Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group will continue to inspire
families with the natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon Marshes.
Thanks also go to: RSPB staff Tony Richardson (Regional Director), Peter Exley (Public Affairs Manager), Tony
Whitehead (Public Affairs Officer), June Young (Volunteering Department) and Trish Harper
(Office Administrator, Somerset Reserves), Steve Hughes (Site Manager, Ham Wall), Ray
Summers (Warden, Ham Wall) and Stephen Couch (Assistant Warden, Ham Wall) for their
help, support and guidance throughout the project.
Natural England staff Phil Holms (Senior Reserves Manager, Somerset), Simon Clarke
(Reserve Manager, Shapwick Heath NNR) and Jon Macaulay (Reserve Warden, Shapwick
Heath NNR) for their enormous support and contribution, especially with regards to
equipment and event preparation.
Somerset Wildlife Trust staff Mark Blake (Brue Valley Reserves Officer), Alys Laver (Brue
Valley Reserves Assistant) and Toria Hare (Community Volunteering Facilitator) for help with
events and Jessy Emery for her help and support with the Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group
Annie and Neville Henderson for their support at the Avalon Marshes Centre; The Hawk and
Owl Trust staff, in particular Chris Sperring, and volunteers for their help with events,
especially Avalon 24; Eddie Wills, former Warden of Peat Moors Centre and Bob Croft and
Richard Brunning of Somerset County Council for their contribution towards events.
The Heritage Lottery Fund, without whose financial contribution, the Somerset Schools and
Community Project would not have been possible.
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