On the last day before school broke up for half term, pupils in Franklin Class, at Wylye Valley C of E Primary School, Codford, went on a school trip to the Nature Reserve at Coombe Bissett. The weather forecast was not promising and teachers and children alike were dressed for the wettest of days but fortunately, after a rather damp start, the rain held off.
The day started with an introduction about the Nature Reserve from Mel of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, assisted by volunteers Ollie and Xander. Mel explained to the children why it was necessary to look after the natural habitat and take care of the creatures large and small that reside within. Mel showed them how to search for fossils without damaging the delicate ecosystem on which the butterflies and wildflowers thrive. This was the highlight of the day for many of the children, who soon got the hang of fossil-hunting among the chalky stones, finding ammonites and various other remnants of animals from thousands of years ago.
After a quick break, the children were set a challenge to work as a team creating a shelter and went on another ‘hunt’ for a variety of pictures of ‘native animals’ hidden by Xander and Ollie earlier. Bentley had great success.
“I found two animals”’ he cried. Eloise was equally pleased: “I’ve had the best time today. It was brilliant!” Lynn Paul agreed. “The day could not have gone better, and it was lovely to see the delight on the children’s faces as they discovered the fossils and explored the fields that make up the nature reserve. We were even lucky enough to see a mouse foraging for berries in the hedgerow: a real treat for everyone.”