Moor Hall Wildlife Camera

Mrs Glare and a group of children were invited by Mr Martin to the local RSPB group to give a talk about the Wildlife Awards they were involved in. The group was so thrilled with the presentation that they gave a gift of £50 which was used to buy the school a wildlife camera. For the past few weeks we have been filming the wildlife that has visited our garden.

Have a look at the video below to see what we captured in our first week.

Wildlife Club Full

The Wildlife club which Mrs Glare runs has proven again to be very popular. The Wildlife club for the June-July term is now full.
Parents rushed into Moorhens yesterday afternoon and this morning to try and secure places for their children within the Wildlife club and within 1 hour it was full. We apologise to anyone who has tried to secure a place for this club, but we only have a limited number of spaces available for a very popular club.

Places are still available within the other clubs that we will be providing for Summer term 2, such as Athletics, Netball, Tennis and Cricket/ Rounders.

Wildlife Area Developments

This wee we have had further development with our wildlife area. This is now starting to look really impressive in line with the drawings that the children made. In the pictures below you can see our bug hotel, a new pathway and seating area, an area where we can start an outdoor fire and new planting and bird feeders. The children are restoring some garden furnishings (including the shed) and there will be a new pond arriving soon!

Mrs Glare and the wildlife club have been doing a marvellous job!

Climate Action Awards

Taking action for climate change is important at home, but it's just as important at school.

Children taking part in the RSPB Climate Action Awards have been keen to take action. They have spread the message using posters and our club's noticeboard, they have been proactive checking taps, thermometers and lights, they have organised the composting bins and have planted seeds to form wildflower beds.

This morning more 'Greening our School' took place. The school pond is very active with tadpoles at present, helping protect this wildlife area of the school is part of our award action.

Mrs Glare said: "Well done children, you are all doing your bit to help combat climate change."

RSPB Wildlife Action Gold Award

Twelve children have recently been presented with their badges, certificates and stickers for passing the RSPB Wildlife Action Gold Awards. Mr. Fisher from the RSPB attended the assembly to help with the presentation.

Over many months children from the 'Bird Club' have been completing activities to help wildlife and the environment. To gain the Gold Award the children had to complete eighteen tasks, which is a huge achievement.

Thank you children for your hard work and commitment. Well done. 

 

Meeting Peter Holden MBE

All the children from the 'Bird Club' were invited to meet Peter Holden MBE, a national ornithologist who has worked for the RSPB for 47 years.He has written many books, appeared on television and is responsible for the youth membership in the RSPB. He also founded the Wildlife Explorer's Awards and the Big Schools' Birdwatch that we take part in at the school.

He presented a signed book and certificate to some children who have done extra fund raising for wildlife. It was such a privilege for us all to meet and talk to such an inspirational man.

Sutton Coldfield RSPB presentation

Six children from the Bird Club who had participated in extra fund raising activities at Christmas time were invited to the Sutton Coldfield RSPB local group's meeting to give a presentation. All the children had prepared their own speeches explaining about their Wildlife Action Awards and how they raised the extra funds, then practised them in their lunch times.


On the night the children did themselves proud as they talked to a hall full of people and showed a PowerPoint of their work. In the interval the local group members made comments about how amazing the children were; they were thrilled to know that children are thinking about the future of animals and their environment.


The children presented the president of the group a cheque for £25 from the money they raised, which was gratefully received. The Group's own report of the evening is here.


Well done to you all.

Falconry Display

Children who are working towards their RSPB Gold Wildlife Explorer's Awards had fun attending a falconry display in the school hall in their 'Bird Club' time. Children who already have the gold award and the RSPB Climate Award also attended.

We saw a variety of birds flying: owls including a beautiful Spectacled Owl, a kestrel and a majestic Harris Hawk.The Golden Eagle was large and grand but a little nervous, however the Little Owl was cocky and very noisy! The talk was interesting and informative and we learnt lots of new facts about raptors and owls. 

The event was a fitting treat for all the children's hard work and perseverance in gaining these awards. 

The 'Wildlife Explorers Club' go on a 'Forest Experience'.

Children in the 'Wildlife Explorers Club' were 'environmentally friendly' today as they walked instead of using transport to an exciting 'forest experience' event.

We made 'God's eyes' out of wood and wool which we found hidden in the forest, then we made dens and finally drank hot chocolate. 

You can see by our photographs what a wonderful nature filled time we had.

Leopard Slug

After the 'Bird Sale' we all went into the 'Wildlife Garden' to fill up the feeders and check the bird baths. We found an unusual slug which was identified as a 'Leopard Slug'. Scientists are unclear of their whereabouts and to date there have been no reported sightings in this area. I have therefore registered our sighting to the Open Air Laboratories Network run by Imperial College, London. These slugs are garden friendly as they eat rotting vegetation and other slugs - they don't eat healthy plants!

Bird Club Sale

The 'Wildlife Explorer's Club' (though we call ourselves the 'Bird Club') are now working towards their RSPB Silver Award. Part of this award is to 'raise funds for wildlife'. 

The children have been working hard making items to sell and today was the sale. They raised over £200 and have several ideas how they want to spend the money: ideas include a bat box, an owl box, a donation to the RSPB and BirdLife Malta and stones for the wildlife garden! A special thank you to Mrs Edwards and Cara's Nan for their contributions. Well done to you all, you should all be very proud.

Wildlife Action Awards

We are pleased to say that the children in the Wildlife Explorer's Club have achieved their bronze Wildlife Action Award. Well done from Mrs Glare!
If you would like more information about the award it will be announced on:www.facebook.com/RSPBWilldlifeActionAwards  and on Twitter @RSPB_Learning

Wildlife Action Awards.
I'm so pleased to introduce a new group of children hoping to gain their 'bronze awards' from the RSPB.
Our first activity this week was making 'raisin and pastry pine cone' bird food.
A great start!