Feed

The group made bird feeders to hand up in Raincliffe Woods in the winter months. They mixed oats and seeds with suet and lard, adding a string to hang them up with. The pupils learnt that food is not so easy for birds to find in winter and so we can help lend a hand by putting out food.

Hello everyone! I'm really looking forward to starting the John Muir award with Blackburn PS P5/6/7 in April 2019! We have lots of exciting activities planned to help us discover, explore and conserve our local 'wild space'! We'll be travelling actively on scooters to explore the Easter Inch Moss, taking part in a litter pick of the area, discovering and recording the wildlife we see, taking part in an air pollution citizen science survey, working alongside the West Lothian Council ranger service, designing and creating our own maps of the area and lots more! Its going to be a busy few days! We will use this space to help share our experience- watch this space! :) Rowanne :)

Today the group headed over to Silversands, Fife for a day of play, relaxation and sharing of experiences attained during the award. The day was made even more special as we had great weather and we topped this off with hot dogs and hot choc all cooked on the beach.

The coracle begins to take shape as we insert our collected whips into a square frame. Creating the frame allows us to ensure that the coracle will be well balanced and as close to symmetrical as possible. Before the whips could be slotted into the frame, we used tools to whittle their ends to fit the holes. Over time, with the frame holding the whips in place, the coracle will become a solid structure. Working outdoors in the cold can be tough, but with a fire fuelled by offcuts and collected kindling to keep us warm, plus plenty of action, we stayed toasty and enjoyed the great outdoors. Next step: weaving!

The Mission: To take to the waters of Woodberry Wetlands on a hand-crafted traditional boat, otherwise known as a coracle. In this clip, I am cutting a juvenile tree. These trees, and similar young trees, will become the 'whips', which will be rendered into a dome-like shape, to create the skeleton of the boat. Over the course of 8 weeks, we will source the raw materials, create the blueprints, and manufacture the boat, which once constructed, will allow us to experience Woodberry Wetlands from the water, whilst also completing important conservation tasks on the reed bed islands. Coracles are traditionally used for navigating rivers and lakes, and although commonly considered to be of Welsh heritage, they can be found far and wide on the waters of India, Vietnam, Tibet, and soon, atop the gentle waves of Woodberry Wetlands.