Today was the last Wild Wednesday of the Summer holidays.   The theme was 'den building and habitats'.  The dens were built collaboratively by groups of 3-4 children (and their grown ups) in the woods of Bowlees Visitor Centre.  The remit was that each group had to be able to all fit inside their finished den. Just the children, that is, although there were a few willing grown ups too (including a member of staff)!

The craft activities were making fairy/hobbit homes, where the children designed and made entrances into a secret world hidden within the trees.

 

They also made solitary bee houses to take home for their own gardens.

 

 

 

 

There were also bug hunting kits available for those who wanted to go off in search of minibeasts. 

 

Plus there was a habitat-themed trail to follow through the grounds, in search of hidden clues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were very touched today by the thanks we have received from our Wild Wednesday attendees.  We have had a lot of fun running the Wild Wednesdays in partnership with North Pennines AONB and could not have managed without the invaluable support of our wonderful volunteers.

 

 

 

Working with the children has, as always, been a rewarding experience, made even more so by the following quote from Joseph, aged 7, "I wish we could have every Wednesday off school so that we could come here".  What a lovely note to end on.

 

Please be aware that there will be no Wild Wednesday during the October half-term week.  Instead there will be a Halloween event on Friday 28th October 2016 at Bowlees Visitor Centre.  See their events page for more details.

Don't forget we also run Bowlees Discovery Club, a nature club for 5-11 year olds, on the last Saturday of each month (except Aug & Dec), 10.30-12.30.  Contact Bowlees Visitor Centre for more information.