Bluebell Nature Walk - Spotter Sheets

Pictures From 15th May 2013::



































Most years we try to mark something special about each season - something that lets us know where we are in this journey around the sun. For spring we usually take the time to visit a local wood famed for its carpet of bluebells - it's always a real treat and never fails to take our breath away, you could never get bored of just staring at it all.

Last year I was trialing the spotter sheets you see above, and plenty of people wondered if they'd become available at some point ... well, in a round about way they are - they are in the first issue of the magazine, and you can print it out as many times as you like for your babes (free for personal use). It is a simple tick sheet, or the child can colour the item once they've found it too. I like spotter sheets on hand just in case activity needs to be a bit focused. Free exploration is our usual gig, but when we're on topic then spotter sheets can keep them focused. Or (as the case here) they were prohibited from free play and exploring due to having to keep to the paths whilst the bluebells were out - almost a torture for them. Spotter sheets and a clip board are a pay off for that.

If you have used these sheets already - let us know how they went - and any photos would be appreciated to the flickr group - I really want to see TEND out foraging in the wild. How did these sheets (and the other content) work for you?

We hope you have as much fun out there exploring as we normally do. There is so much to keep little minds awed and forever asking questions!

Bluebells and Bugs

This time last year it was hot. Spring-like, even. We would see the sun, and rain was a rare occurence. This time last year we bluebell watched with sunhats.

Without exageration I think it has been four whole weeks since we had one day of sun. We catch it in patches. It lasts hours if we are lucky, and although we need the rain, desperately so, I still don't seem to have anymore gratitude left for it anymore. It's time Someone called off the dogs, ya know??

As such, bluebell watching this year was an altogether different experience than years gone by. We were wrapped up warmly. We saw no butterflies. We didn't see one thing basking... instead it was perfect bug finding weather. And bugs we did find... we watched in awe the amount of snails that have made their way up the tree trunks into the canopy to escape the water. I swear I heard the sound of a little saw as a snail ark was being made...

We found the lone white bluebell. We found bugs that we didn't have a name for. We found primroses. We heard the first cuckoo of the year, yes we did. And we knew it was spring.

We knew, but didn't feel, it was spring.



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