Have a listen to what pupils from Bowsland Green thought about their day at Folly Farm!

Pupils from Bowsland Green Primary School became Nature Detectives for the day on their visit to Folly Farm.

We recorded some of their findings and thoughts about their day at our Learning Centre and Nature Reserve.


Click on the quotes below to hear about what the pupils thought about:

Their trip to Folly Farm
"I had a lot of fun today exploring habitats"

Dissecting owl pellets
 "I found a skull and bones!"


Pond dipping
"The pond was really good... I really liked it"

Exploring in the woods 
"We went into the woods to find creatures"


To book your trip to our Folly Farm Learning Centre and Nature Reserve click here

Bowsland Green Pupils Turn Nature Dectives!

Last Tuesday we had a fun-filled, action packed day at Folly Farm,  our Learning Centre and Nature Reserve. We were joined by pupils from Bowsland Green Primary School, who got 'stuck in' to a range of activities.

Pond dipping

We also explored  micro habitats in the woodlands. We had to rummage around under leaves, dead wood and in soil to find out mini beasts, who were a bit reluctant to make an appearance in the cold, but we discovered worms, spiders, snails and woodlice, to name just a few. Then, under the cover of our outdoor classroom, we worked out what food chains there are in the woodland... who eats what!

In the woods

 We then turned detective and examined owl pellets! Owls eat small mammals, usually whole! They regurgitate pellets made up of bones and fur, parts that they cannot digest. Through careful inspection of skeletons within the pellets, we were able to decipher the owl's dinner. Mice and voles were mainly on this hunters' menu!

Disecting owl pellets

A great day was had by all... The pupils from Bowsland Green were great fun and brilliant nature detectives!

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To book your visit to Folly Farm Learning Centre and Nature Reserve click here

Pond dipping was a firm favourite amongst the visitors, who investigated what creatures were lurking under the water... it was surprising to see so much life in the water during the winter!

Wildlife makes the most of the mild weather

The short days and long cold nights of Winter usually make this a time for wildlife to step down a gear but it seems the recent spell of mild weather has caused Spring to have sprung a little early this year.

Many plants which usually flower between late January to early February such as Lesser Celandine and Cowslips have been seen in bloom in our local Leigh Woods whereas Snowdrops, Crocuses and Daffodils have been seen elsewhere around the country. The mild weather seems to have made these plants think winter's over, making them bloom well ahead of schedule. The buds on trees such as Silver Birch and Oak are already bursting and Hazel Catkins have even been seen in some areas.

Daffodils (Photo: Hazel Philips)

Lesser Celandine
(Photo: Shirley Freeman)

Snowdrops (Photo: Anna Guthrie)


Although the vibrant trumpets of daffodils might be a welcome sight to brighten up our grey winter, it's not all good news. Winter is not over and there is still a risk of colder days to come. The wildlife can suffer if a late cold spell comes along, so lets hope for a mild February!

Photo: Richard Burkmar

This untimely mild weather can also be dangerous for small mammals. Sightings of hedgehogs out and about around indicate these as well as other small mammals may have woken early from hibernation, expecting the abundance of food that Spring provides. With not much food around for them to forage in these winter months, many of them could starve. If you see a hedgehog then it's great to give them a helping hand by leaving out some food - dog food and cat food would be happily gobbled up. Visit our Wild Hedgehogs site for more info.

Native plants and trees are a great indicator of wider changes in the environment. Early sightings of plants such as daffodils and snowdrops could be an indicator of  climate change. Take a look at The Woodland Trust's Nature's Calendar which documents unusual seasonal events spotted by the general public, as a way of demonstrating how climate change could be affecting our wildlife.

Let us know what unusual wildlife you've spotted lately!