outdoor & woodland learning scotland bulletin · bird language is an ancient skill, closely...
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Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland Bulletin
April 2016
Welcome to the new format OWL Scotland bulletin which is adapted from the Outdoor Learning Wales bulletin – thank you to OLW for letting us share their bulletin! If you have items for inclusion in the bulletin please send them to [email protected]
OWL Scotland Update:
Courses and Events: Career-Long Professional Learning Courses
We are working on the programme for next year’s courses. So far we have confirmed a course with Dan Puplett on Bird Language – on Saturday 25th June in Tayside (venue to be confirmed). Bird language is an ancient skill, closely related to tracking. Birds are constantly aware of everything they need in their environment to survive. We can learn to pay attention to their calls and behaviour, enriching our understanding and enjoyment of nature and helping us to have closer encounters with birds and other wildlife. Further information and Booking Form.
We are also planning courses to support our new resources on Native Woodlands, Soils and Biodiversity Gardening for Young Children. Watch this space for further courses and dates….. Local OWL Events and News:
Moray OWL Group The Moray OWL Group will be holding a launch event on Saturday 24th April in Cooper Park, Elgin from 13.00 – 15.00. Get in touch with the group if you would like to know more or come along to find out what is happening in the Moray area in outdoor learning….
Tayside OWL Group The following report ‘Tayside OWL Group Nature Families 2015’ is now available on the OWL Scotland website as a zipped folder:
http://owlscotland.org/resources/resource-library/tayside-owl-group-nature-families-2015
–search under the title to get the summary.
Dumfries and Galloway OWL Group 2016 Meeting Dates
Member’s meetings run from 10am to 12pm (except December—see below) Outdoor Skills Share sessions run from 1pm to 3pm. Both are free and open to all. Contact [email protected] 07444 175 685
Date Venue Skills Share leader
Skills Share themes
Wednesday 8th June
Mersehead, and Rockcliffe (NTS)
Elizabeth Tindal Judy Baxter
Beach Schools.
Coastal wildlife
Monday
8th August (inc ROLF tbc)
Lochside Education Centre (DGC), and local greenspace
TBC Urban greenspaces. OPAL survey packs
Thursday 6th October (AGM)
Allanton House (WPPS)
John Wheeler Arts in the outdoors
Thursday 8th December
Eskrigg Nature Reserve (LWT), and Lockerbie Town Hall
Jim Rae Mammals (including small mammal trapping). Wildlife tracks and signs
New Resources:
Wee Green Fingers Fun Pack – Biodiversity Gardening for Young Children We are delighted to announce the updating and reprinting of the very popular pack which we have carried out in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage. The pack is designed to be used with young children to explore biodiversity and contains games, activities and ideas for having fun in the garden, exploring and discovering. This is available through our distributors – please see the leaflet (above) for details.
We are also working on a number of resources which will be available in the next few weeks – these include a Soils resource and the new Native Woodlands resource for Nat4 and Nat5. Watch this space for further info or check the website.
We have produced a Resources Summary flyer for download which sets out all of our resources, ages and stages and how to get copies.
Recruiting Future Foresters in Less Than 60 Seconds
A produced by ICF and sponsored by Forestry Commission Scotland is showing new videoyoung people the diversity of roles in the forestry sector and challenging stereotypes, all in less than a minute. Members and supporters are asked to share the video as widely as possible, inorder to reach as many young people in the 14-18 age group as possible.
New Research on Children and Nature A variety of research including some new research from Norway is available at the direct link to Forest Research’s new webpage - below. When you go to this you will see a link to publications on the left hand side of the webpage which brings together our publications on children over the past few years. www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/childrenandnature Play Tree and Log Finder Web Pages
Forestry Commission Scotland have just supported Grounds for Learning to develop resources for finding, installing and managing large play trees, logs and other wood products in school grounds. These fallen trees and large logs are often a low cost, simple and robust way of transforming part of school grounds. They offer huge play potential, as well as engagement with nature, development of physical literacy and even form simple outdoor gathering spaces with a class. In addition, this will support local sourcing of materials in Scotland.
You can find the resources on our website at http://www.ltl.org.uk/spaces/PlayTreesInSchool.php
There is advice and information to support schools, from ourselves and others who have used large fallen trees and logs in school grounds and community parks for many years. There is an interactive map to find local suppliers. This map is being updated, and has only just been spread out to other suppliers, so will fill out over the next couple of weeks.
Other News:
Summary of Scottish Qualifications
SQA have produced a useful summary of Scottish Qualifications http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/Guide_to_Scottish_Qualifications.pdf
British Dragonfly Society Education Resources http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/education
Plantlife Resources
• Magnificent Meadows Our Magnificent Meadows resources have been sent out this week to all those you requested them. The resource includes a Meadow enquiry – How healthy is your local meadow as well as a short meadow ID guide. The resource has been designed for 7-9 year olds but can be differentiated to suit younger or older pupils. To get your copy visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Meadows2016. A full list of our meadow resources can be found here http://www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/england/projects/magnificent-meadows/. More resources will be online from March and April.
• Bee Scene
Our Bee Scene survey resources have been revamped. Discover whether your local green space is good for bees or not by downloading the resource here http://www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/beescene/resource-download/?id=146. With the state of pollinators a hot topic this resource can help promote an understanding of the interdependence between bumblebees and wildlflowers as well as support the development of observational skills and the use of keys.
Training:
Trees: a crop with multiple benefits
Managing & planting for improved livestock & arable production Thursday 26th May, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
Friday 27th May, Newburgh, Fife
(Please note these are two separate events.) A practical day looking at the benefits of agroforestry: how to manage existing woodland for livestock; planting for optimum arable production; funding sources and an introduction to the Woodland Trust. Speakers include Stephen Briggs, Abacus Organics; Mike Strachan, Forestry Commission Scotland and Woodland Trust. Thursday’s event includes a visit to Bolfracks Estate where we will look at long established silvopastoral grazing systems. Friday’s event includes a visit to Parkhill Farm where we will discuss how the farmer is planning to establish alleyway planting of apple trees in his arable fields to increase production along with planting native trees to provide shelter for livestock. Come along and find out from those practicing agroforestry, what the multiple benefits are. Free of charge to farmers and land managers & £40.00 plus VAT to others. Booking is required so lunch & packs can be provided. For further information please call Lyn 07899 791748 or email [email protected]
John Muir Award in Schools One Day (Professional Learning) Saturday 30 April, 2016 Botanic Gardens, Dundee This one-day (09.30-15.30) introductory course is for teachers, head teachers, classroom assistants, pupil support and youth workers, community learning staff, and all who support outdoor learning. It explores the relevant skills, knowledge and approaches needed for delivering the John Muir Award in a schools/education/curriculum context. The John Muir Award is suitable from upper primary level. Cost- £40.00 To book a place please email [email protected]
Meta Saga Sheila Fraser www.sheilafraser.co.uk is running a Meta Saga in Edinburgh at the National Gallery on Saturday 30th April at 10.30 am. This is a facilitation technique that encourages people to reflect on the surroundings and environment. There is no cost for this event. The gallery is free.
If you are unable to make this event but would like to know more about Meta Saga and designing training to be friendly to the Brain. I am can run an in-house training event workshop –Train in the Grain of the Brain at your venue (which will include a meta saga)
BSBI / Plantlife Identifying Plant Families Workshops Beginners are welcome to attend these workshops which aim to teach how to identify wild flowers through recognising their families. The workshops will also help to build confidence in using
identifications keys. Dr Faith Anstey and BSBI tutors will lead these highly acclaimed workshops that consist of a Saturday morning in the classroom and much of the afternoon out in the field. More time will be spent practising new-found field skills on the Sunday morning immediately afterwards (from 10am to 1pm). The same workshop will be repeated at four locations throughout Scotland. The locations and dates are:-
• Glencoe NTS Visitor Centre, 7/8 May 2016 • LogiekirkﾠHall, Stirling 21/22 May 2016
• AbriachanﾠWoodland Centre, Loch Ness 4/5 June 2016 • Dundee Botanic Gardens, 18/19 June 2016
Contact: To contact your local OWL group please go to the OWL Scotland website
Or contact us: Bonnie Maggio
Outdoor & Woodland Learning Manager
Forestry Commission Scotland Silvan House Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Join us on Facebook – “Forest Education Initiative” group (we have over 5000 members so were unable to change from our original name!)
Disclaimer: OWL Scotland are not responsible for the content, standard or reliability of the linked websites, courses or resources from this bulletin from external sources. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.
Year of Fieldwork and the John Muir Award
Information about the Year of Fieldwork, and how schools, colleges and universities can combine it with a John Muir Award. Please find word version attached. https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/about/resources/664-year-of-fieldwork-and-the-john-muir-award
Quote of the month
“Play is the highest form of research”
Albert Einstein
Activity of the Month
Seed Bomb
Seed bombs are fun to make with children of all ages.
All you need to do is encase the seeds in a hard ball of clay and potting soil which will help them germinate.
The bombs can be tossed into any bare patch of dirt.
Just add water!
You will need:
• Clay • Suitable seeds for area to be planted • Compost
Amounts: 5 parts clay / 1 part compost/potting soil / 1 part seeds
Combine the clay and compost. Add a little water if your mixture is dry. The mixture should be moist but not dripping wet.
Add the seeds to the clay and compost. Thoroughly work the materials together with your hands.
Shape the mixture into a ball the size of a golf ball. You can either plant your seed bomb while it is still moist or allow it to dry. As long as it is watered (either manually or by rain) once it’s planted, the clay will break down and the seeds will grow.
www.kidsgardening.org
Fact of the Month
Did you know rabbits like liquorice?
Recipe of the month
Campfire Boiled Eggs
As it is Easter we thought you might like to try this method.
You will need wax coated drinking cups (do not use Styrofoam. From my research, I can't find anything that supports that burning a wax paper cup is toxic. It is similar to burning a candle and since the egg is protected by its hard outer shell you would not be ingesting anything toxic).
Eggs Water Tongs
Once you have a campfire that has burned down a bit and has hot coals you are ready to start. Place one egg in each wax coated cup.
Fill with water until cup is full.
Using tongs place cups in the fire - on a log or directly on the hot coals. Once water starts to boil check your watch and let boil for 10 minutes.
The tops of the cups will catch on fire and burn away. This is fine.
Some of the water will evaporate from the heat. This is okay too. After 10 minutes using the tongs to remove cups from the fire and let eggs cool before eating
www.instructables.com
Species of the Month
Long-Tailed Tit / Aegithalos Caudatus
So named for a tail longer than its body, the tiny long-tailed tit is a delightful visitor to any garden. It is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring and undulating flight.
These highly gregarious birds are a visual treat with their black, white and pinkish plumage, red eye rings and small black beaks regardless of sex. Juveniles can be seen from the end of April onwards and look like a monochrome adult. If it wasn’t for its tail the Long-Tailed Tit would take the crown as our smallest tit.
They gather in excitable flocks of about 20 birds flitting through the treetops and hedgerows and roosting huddled together along branches but are also seen on heaths, farmland and commons with suitable bushes. The Long-tailed Tit is an abundant breeding resident in the UK with over 250,000 pairs. The Long-tailed Tit occurs throughout the UK and Ireland apart from the far North West of Scotland and the extreme North West of Ireland.
It is a reasonably common garden birds and will visit garden feeders regularly throughout the year. Long-tailed Tits are insect eaters, however in the garden they will feed on Peanuts, Insects, Seed Mixes, Mealworms, Suet and Fat Balls . Long-tailed Tits have a couple of calls including a sharp thin ‘zee zee zee,’ also a strange squelch like raspberry sound!
Long-tailed tits are true masters of nest-building, creating elastic nests that can actually expand to accommodate their growing chicks. They achieve this by delicately weaving spider webs into the ball of feathers, moss and lichen. A larger nest can contain up to 2000 feathers.
http://twootz.com
www.bbc.co.uk
www.rspb.org.uk
Collective noun of the month
A clutch / sitting / brood of eggs
Natural Resource Management
Dew Pond
A dew pond is an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill, intended for watering livestock.
Dew ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water may not be readily available.
Despite their name, it is now generally accepted that, they are mainly replenished by rain, other sources mist and
maybe dew, making a small contribution. There is a certain romance to the thought of them being maintained by the swirling morning mists and much poetry and some number of folk songs has been written, together with various references in literature and works on the history
They became popular in the nineteenth century, for the growing numbers of sheep at that time. There has been much debate about their origins and individual age. Shepherds knew them as 'Sheep Ponds' or 'Ship ponds'. Other names used are; 'Mist Ponds', 'Fog Ponds'.
In the last 15 years or so there has been a revival in their fortunes with many being restored and indeed some number created from bare hillsides. This is not for the benefit of the sheep, but a wish to provide habitats for wildlife and a visual return to a historic landscape.
To some, a pond that has ceased to be used for watering livestock and becomes a wildlife habitat, ceases to be a true dewpond. However many ponds now only exist to contain water, thanks to their capacity for wildlife. This use can soon lead to their becoming choked with
reeds and die and disappear once the bottom is pierced.
http://dewponds.co.uk/
Contact: To contact your local OWL group please go to the OWL Scotland website Or contact us:
Bonnie Maggio Outdoor & Woodland Learning Manager Forestry Commission Scotland Silvan House Edinburgh EH12 7AT
Join us on Facebook – “Forest Education Initiative” group (we have over 5000 members so were unable to change from our original name!)
Disclaimer: OWL Scotland are not responsible for the content, standard or reliability of the linked websites, courses or resources from this bulletin from external sources. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.