Families out and about - February 2011  On February 23rd Kate from the Wild About Plants team was out and about ‘planting some ideas’ with families whose children attend Bedford Primary School in Bootle, Sefton. This school is one of of Plantlife's partnership schools and 17 parents and 17 children attended . This session coincided with the launch of our NEW family learning resources Flower Keys.Families took the opportunity to get to know the school grounds better by taking part in a range of outdoor learning opportunities. We collected sticks to make sniffily hedgehogs, pounded some flowers to make patterns and used the Flower Keys to really explore the area using all our senses."We really enjoyed making pictures out of nature", said one mum. Parents and children are looking forward to springing into action and getting out and about in Sefton's Parks now having lots of fresh ideas enabling them to really enjoy their local green spaces. Plantlife's Flower Keys are now available and can be downloaded by following the family button at the left of this page. |
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Age UK training workshop a success - February 2011  On February 18th Plantlife's Wild About Plants team delivered their first Engaging Nature workshop designed for those who work with older audiences. The workshop was delivered in partnership with AGE UK's Fit as a Fiddle programme in Leeds. Participants came from all over the Yorkshire and Humberside area and enjoyed the wide range of activities that explored how older people could access and enjoy their local environment.Activities included those which brought the outside in such as reminiscence maps and poetry. The role of grandparents in supporting younger generations get out and explore and enjoy green spaces was discussed as was the importance of intergenerational activities. The afternoon saw various plant crafts being enjoyed such as flower pounding, willow weaving and the making of seed balls. Participants gained much from the day and are looking forward to taking these ideas to the groups they work with. A big thank you to Age UK's Richard Siddall for bringing everyone together. |
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Family Resources Available- 2011 | Plantlife's Flower Keys are now available and can be downloaded by following the family button at the left of this page. For groups and organisations that work with family groups the Wild About Plants team is giving away FREE sets of the Flower Key cards which are available by downloading and completing the Family Application Form. The Flower Keys have been designed to unlock the outdoors and can be used in any green space. They are suitable for children aged 3-7 accompanied by adults and provide opportunities for parent-child interaction, imaginative play and exploration and discovery. |
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Wild About Plants Events - 2011  The Wild About Plants team is running a host of events throughout the country for those interested in learning more about wild plants, developing new craft skills or going foraging. The photo shows a willow weaving and wreath making event which was run at Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve, with materials gathered from the reserve. Events are also being run at the Natural History Museum in London, by Bankside Open Spaces Trust in London and at nature reserves owned by Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Plantlife's Kate Deane is running a host of family events and craft events at the National Wildflower Centre. To find out more follow the Events button at the side of this page. |
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February Pioneer Out - 2011 | The latest Pioneer is now out and with romance in the air for Valentine's Day, what better theme for the Pioneer than love. Discover the mysterious language of floriography; see how wild plants have inspired romantic literature and explore the lucky heathers and wild roses that adorn our countryside. To download the latest Pioneer click here. To reguarly receive the quarterly Pioneer go to our Parish Pioneer page by following the button at the side of this page and sign up. |
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Bee Scene in 2011  Schools are signing up to take part in Bee Scene in 2011. The survey will officially launch on April 1st when there will be more wildflowers around for bumblebees to visit. But it is possible to see bumblebees buzzing around quite early on in the year. One of the wildflowers that provides an invaluable source of pollen and nectar in late winter is the snowdrop. To find out more download the latest Bee Scene newsletter. |
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Have you got a way with words? - November 2010
 Have you been inspired by wonderful wildflowers? Do you have a way with words? We would love to hear from you. We have just launched our way with words page and over the next few years the Wild About Plants team are hoping to build a collection of poems and verse that reflect the connections that many people have with the local landscape and their local wild plants. We are also looking for haiku teasers. If you think you can write a haiku desribing a wild plant without naming it then please send us your haiku. For ideas visit our favourite flower page where we have a cow parsley haiku. All contributions should be emailed to the Wild About Plants team. |
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Folklore, flowers and romance - November 2010
 The Wild About Plants is are keen to learn more about associations between wildflowers and love. Do you know a wildflower that has a romantic folklore tale? Do you know how forget-me-not got its name? Perhaps you can share a romantic widlflower walk or picnic spot with us. We will use information we receive to shape February's Pioneer. Please email Katie |
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New Pioneer out - November
2010  The new Pioneer newsletter is now out. November's edition takes remembrance as its theme and explores the field poppy, the role of plants in war and the wildflower meadow at the National Memorial Arboretum. If you would like to subscribe to the quarterly Pioneer click here. If you would like to download the November issue of Pioneer please click here. |
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Out and about in Sefton - October 2010  Thanks to a partnership between schools in Sefton, Sefton Borough Council and Plantlife, the Wild About Plants team has been enjoying being out and about with school children in local parks. We have been starting off the new school year getting out and active with our partnership schools in local green spaces.
We have been taking 'walks on the wild side' with St Thomas C of E Primary School in Maghull and ‘playing naturally' with Our Lady Star of the Sea in Seaforth. Most recently we have been running ‘Plant Some Ideas’ workshops with families whose children attend Allsaints Primary School in Bootle. Fifty families attended workshops over three days. The Wild About Plants team will continue to work with local communities in local spaces throughout the next two years. Kate Deane of Plantlife says 'These partnerships are a fantastic way for us all to appreciate our local green spaces and learn about the wildlife on our doorsteps. Providing children with these opportunities will support the building of long lasting relationships with the natural world.. The team is looking forward to running more sessions focusing on natural Christmas decorations, bulbs and poppies during the the run up to Christmas. If you would like to find out more about our work in Merseyside click here . |
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