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We started our learning experience over a hundred years ago as Rhona told us the history of the Hidden Gardens, describing the Industrial Heritage of site before it became a haven for Plants, Pollinators and Wild Life. She told us stories of champing horses and thundering slow moving trams using story boards that helped us all imagine what it must have been like! As we moved through the garden we could see the mosque in the nearby distance and smell the aromatic smells of lunch and dinner being prepared. We talked of the cultural aspects of the area and all agreed that it would have been great to stay for dinner! However we had tasks to complete so on we went.....

Our learning objectives for the day had been set and included the historical tour of the gardens, an insight into the plants that had been chosen and the uses that many of them had. We seen new ideas for fruit, herb and vegetable gardens that we constructed off the ground and so were accessible to all! Our day concluded with a practical activity where we used compost, medium sized pots and clusters of bulbs of different varieties. Potting them up and labelling was the task we had to complete and once again we achieved this by working as a team. Our thanks go to the staff at The Hidden Gardens Glasgow for a fantastic learning experience.

Students taking a range of photos within the forest to build up a gallery to showcase work in school. Students to collate images and then decide on how these are presented

After a couple of weeks off we were back to Kinghorn today. Leon's group were out rowing today. Leon took the Stroke position on the boat, a Rowing Club volunteer coxed, and the other 3 in the group also rowed. A brilliant achievement! I went with Ellie's group exploring up Rodden Braes, by the Troll Bridge and the viewpoint up to the abandoned cottages at the top of the path. It was great to find out that this area had once been covered in 1000ft of Ice, and that a large ice melt had indeed formed Kinghorn Loch. Shame it was too foggy for a proper view over the Forth. We stopped at the abandoned cottages for a chat about what life must have been like living up on the hill back in the day. The group are enjoying finding out about the area whether exploring by boat or by foot. Another great morning, finished off nicely with hot rolls and hot chocolate back at the Ecology Centre.

Our adventure into nature with our Countryside Ranger Friends took a bit of a twist today with the Festive Mischief of Glasgow Countryside Rangers Linzi and Fiona coming to the fore. Taking place in the beautiful setting of Knowe Lodge in the middle of our much loved Pollok Park we worked as a team to create some Festive Decorations using produce found mainly in the park. Fiona and Linzi gathered branches of various sizes and we cut these into different shapes and sizes. We used tools for cutting and for threading, glue for sticking and using string we shaped and created the most intricate little Christmas Trees before dressing them in colored baubles which looked amazing. We pushed on and with the help of Linzi, Fiona and our tremendous support staff we created Beautiful Reindeer complete with Christmas tails! These weren't the only tails to be found however. As we worked we listened and told 'tales' of Christmas Adventures we have had and Christmas Dreams we hoped maybe one day may come true. Chocolates were disappearing at a rapid pace as Christmas music floated around the room painting smiles on everyone's faces! It was tricky work especially for Colin who found threading the string through the small holes in the Christmas Trees - all Colin wants for Christmas is a new pair of Reading Glasses!! As for us, well we have 'No Eye Deer'!!

Our adventures continued today with the generosity of The Friends of Springburn Park and of course our Glasgow Countryside Rangers! The amazing world of mini beasts and Hibernation Habitats was our theme as we delved into the not so scary world of mini beasts. Senior Countryside Ranger Allison Greig turned an ordinary disused log into a story and adventure as she identified not one, not two but six different mini beasts all calling this sodden log home! Countryside Ranger Gavin explained how mini beasts can live in our woodland, ponds, under leaves or even in holes in bricks in tumbled down walls! Allison described how Insects are IN SECTIONS and we wondered at how something so small could play such a BIG Part in all of our lives. With all of this in mind we set to work, our intention - to help our mini beast friends.....

The Friends of Springburn Park are all about helping and working together - two things that the Glasgow Kelvin Explorers are massive on! Danielle from FOS suggested we use the Boat House Cafe as we worked to create our Mini Beast Homes. We would repay her hospitality when Countryside Ranger Gavin would take the finished Mini Beast Homes and position them in the park. We used a variety of materials including recycled materials such as card, bamboo, sticks, string and recycled cups to create of Mini Beast Homes. Cutting safely with tools is something we have practiced over recent weeks and so it was again today as we worked in small teams to complete our tasks. Allison and Gavin worked between the working groups sharing information while we worked while as always our support staff assisted and helped at every turn. Finally it really is beginning to 'look a lot like Christmas' as once again there was a Friends of Springburn Park Festive Theme! Music was playing and once our work was complete the fantastic Pauline at the Boathouse Cafe provided 'every single person' with Teas, Coffees' Waters and Juices of all kinds!! This perhaps is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!

The John Muir award: Our first John Muir award session began at in the pupil’s classroom at Endeavour Academy. We introduced ourselves and our role within the Durham County Council’s parks and countryside team before explaining the aims and objectives of the John Muir award. A video outlined the John Muir award as well as previous participants experiences. With a lot of information to take in, it was important to ask the pupil’s what their expectations would be, what they wanted to get out of the award and how they would like to fulfil each element.