Across the age ranges!



Spoonbills

As Holkham’s National Nature Reserve has the only breeding colony of Spoonbills in the UK Will and Sue collaborated with our neighbours/colleagues at Cley Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) to present a Spoonbill Workshop for adults in the fabulous new, HLF funded Simon Aspinall Education Centre. A detailed lecture on the ecology, habitats and breeding behaviour of Holkham’s fantastic Spoonbills, complete with ornithological activities and quizzes was followed by a close encounter with the birds, which fly down from Holkham to feed on the scrapes at Cley. The weather was stunning, and delegates were lucky enough to spend time watching 11 Spoonbills, including a number of recently fledged‘teaspoons’.

Woodland Art

On Monday we welcomed 100 eager pupils from Docking Primary School, who enjoyed a fun-filled day of pond dipping, woodland exploring, mini-beast hunting and a deer walk. The rain held off for most of the day and the children enjoyed some excellent views of Fallow Deer bucks and fawns, as well as finding all sorts of mini-beasts, including ladybird larvae, centipedes and woodlice. They also captured an array of awesome aquatic creatures and enjoyed watching the Barnacle Geese and their cute little goslings.

Tuesday was another day filled with learning and lots of fun, as we welcomed 129 Nursery and Reception pupils from Sheringham Community Primary School and Nursery. It was brilliant to have so many parents and carers join them for Woodland Art adventures, a tour of the Hall, pond dipping and games in the Adventure Play Area. The woodland creatures they made were absolutely brilliant and the pond dipping nets were full of fish fry, freshwater hoglice and alderfly nymphs. An action packed day ended with well-deserved ice-creams, before they headed back to school on their coaches, exhausted and happy.

 Will Clennell Education Coordinator