Term 1 at Queensferry High

A few technical issues getting things up and running our end, but here is the first update from our new John Muir Group. We started up in August, and here is an over view of what we have been up to so far. Our first few sessions were spent getting the lie of the land around the school. We have a nice wooded area at the back of the grounds that we will be using mainly for our work. We have also been out walking in the Ferry Glen, a nice walk directly across from the school. Once we got ourselves settled in, we started activities within the school grounds: We have been IDing plants and trees using guide sheets showing leaf shapes and seed and fruit types to get an idea of what trees we have in the school. Learning to measure the height and girth of trees. Learning to tie a series of knots that can be used for a number of tasks, Lashing poles together, joining ropes, securing ropes to objects, and using rope to drag heavy objects. We have been learning to use hand tools safely, such as bow saws for removing dead wood and harvesting wood for poles for building. We have also been learning about drone photography, which allows us to get aerial photos both of the plants and trees around the area as well as taking aerial photos of the group working. We will be building some birdhouses to put up in the school grounds, and have been asked by the Police to build them planters for the Queensferry station. They are supplying us with pallet wood to build them from. All in all, some busy times ahead for the Queensferry High John Muir Group!