outdoor & woodland learning scotland bulletin may/june 2020 · welcome to the owl scotland...
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Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland Bulletin May/June 2020
Welcome to the OWL Scotland bulletin which contains content from the Outdoor Learning Wales bulletin– Thank you to OLW for letting us share their bulletin! You can find more information on Outdoor Learning Wales here. If you have items for inclusion in the bulletin please send them to [email protected]
OWL Scotland National News Update from Lockdown Like many of you I have been working from home now for several months and find myself putting together another bulletin during Lockdown. My thoughts are with everyone who is being affected by the pandemic. As outdoor educators our community of practitioners are particularly affected by the lockdown as all sessions and events have had to be cancelled or postponed. The plus side is that there has been quite a rise in interest about outdoor learning as it offers a means of lowering the risk of spreading Covid 19 as well as enabling social distancing. All face to face OWL events and training courses are on hold until further notice. Please read below to hear what different OWL groups are up to and how they are adapting to the lockdown. I had fun taking part in the Dumfries and Galloway OWL Group “This is not a stick video” (see link below) Let us know what outdoor learning activities you are doing during lockdown – we would love to hear from you. [email protected] We will all be looking forward to the time we can get together again and carry on. Take care and be safe. Bonnie
Here is an update on what is happening as regards outdoor learning and moving forwards from Covid 19. We have been asked about OWL Scotland’s policies on moving forward after lockdown and would like to reiterate that groups should follow Scottish Government guidance at all times.
A lot of work has been and is going on to get coherency and consistency in the outdoor learning world for schools and how to use the school playground and local greenspace for learning. Whilst the schools are now going back full time as from 11 August the outdoors can still be a crucial space to use for learning as we move out of lockdown.
NNOL are collecting information about skills, opportunities and ideas which will be passed to the Scottish Government to facilitate the process. Please ask as many of your members as possible to participate.
https://nnolscotland.blogspot.com/2020/05/opportunities-and-collaboration.html
All the Scottish Government documents are online here
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
Phase 1 in the route map included the re-opening of fully outdoor early years settings and guidance for opening up Early Years outdoor settings has been released -
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-fully-outdoor-childcare-providers-guidance/pages/operating-conditions/
Restarting forestry work was included in Phase 1 also with the Forestry Sector Restart and Resilience Plan
https://forestry.gov.scot/covid-19
And the safety guidance for Forestry work :
https://www.ukfisa.com/news-events/news/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19-in-forestry.html
From an outdoor learning perspective the following shows the recognition by decision makers of learning outdoors. AS said before full time school will probably still need to consider these spaces because of the nature of COVID-191. An extract from the Covid 19 Re-opening Schools Guide which can be seen in full by following the link.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-re-opening-schools-guide/
1. Practical approaches to physical distancing – use of outdoor spaces
In parallel with the indoor environment, education authorities and schools should consider appropriate use of the outdoor environment to enrich the learning experiences of children and ensure as many children as possible can benefit from formal education at school. Evidence suggests that outdoor environments can limit transmission, as well as more easily allowing for appropriate physical distancing between children and staff.
Effective outdoor learning can be delivered across many subject areas and the 3-18 learner journey, whilst enabling benefits in relation to learner engagement, health and wellbeing and educational attainment. Informal outdoor classrooms set within the natural environment can often be effective spaces for learning. However, where some level of shelter is required the periodic use of the school building should be considered. With any repurposing of space, particularly in respect of any greater use of outdoor spaces for learning, schools should ensure that pupils with complex needs or disabilities are not disadvantaged
If outdoor equipment is being used, schools should ensure that multiple groups do not use it simultaneously, as well as considering appropriate cleaning between groups of children using it (see hygiene measures).
How learning and teaching is adapted for an outdoor environment should also be considered. The Outdoor Learning Directory provides links to a variety of resources that can be filtered by subject area and curriculum level.
2. And in the determining capacity section
Approaches may include:
use of flexible accommodation (e.g. mobile classrooms, geodomes) and temporary shelters to help maximise and enhance outdoor learning opportunities (e.g. polytunnels and canopies). There are many instances where these types of spaces have been used very positively across the learning estate and could be utilised as case studies to help inform local solutions.
use of local outdoor spaces. Education practitioners may be able to draw on contacts within their establishments or wider clusters to identify appropriate space. The Outdoor Learning Directory features a map of relevant spaces, and the Going Out There and Out to Play guidance documents provide comprehensive practical and legal advice for taking learning outdoors and offsite. Practitioners may also wish to contact their education authority outdoor learning lead through the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education for further advice and support.
innovative use of the public, private or 3rd sector estate to increase the number of children and young people who can attend schools. For example, there could be opportunities to use council office space, libraries, leisure centres or cultural venues to increase the effective size of the school.
Early Years National Networking Event Due to the Covid 19 outbreak we have decided to postpone the special Early years National Networking Event. The event will be an opportunity to attend a variety of hands-on workshops to help develop the outdoor learning practice of early years practitioners. Date to be confirmed. Please watch this space.
Local OWL Events and News: Argyll and Bute OWL Group The networking event in Inverary has been postponed – We hope to organise the network event for later in the year - September or October – Watch this space.. FIRST AID We would also like to ask at the moment of any interest in doing an outdoor first aid course. We are only gauging interest at the moment with the potential of organising the courses to meet demand in the Little OWL groups - Cowal, Helensburgh & Lomond, Kintyre, Mid-Argyll and Oban. Argyll OWL Group will endeavour to subsidise the cost of the course. Please let me know which Little OWL area you can attend for the course whether it be just one or if you are willing to travel. Do remember to take into account that it is a two day course please.
Email [email protected] Moray OWL Group
Resources We have updated our Resources section on the website with summaries of resources available for different levels. There are many more resources available in the resource library which can be searched for using the search function. If you would like any hard copies of resources – we have some available: Wee Green Fingers Wolf Brother’s Wildwoods The World Beneath our Feet Tree Stories Tree Measuring Woodland Workout Trees and the Scottish Enlightenment Pine Poster Please email [email protected] with your request and address. Thank you!
Outdoor Workshops Delivered Virtually Given the current coronavirus restrictions the Moray OWL group committee decided to run two online workshops as a link to the outdoors for our members while also providing information and an opportunity for live Q and A. Both workshops were delivered in the outdoors via Zoom with one person inside monitoring the technical quality and questions coming in the chat feed. The first, Minibeast Hunt, was delivered by Ruaraidh Milne from Nature 4 Health. It started with an overview of the classification of invertebrates and some handy items to have in your bug hunting kit such as bug pots (purpose made or recycled hummus pot!), pooters and identification charts (available from Field Studies Council). Then on to a live minibeast hunt in the garden with plenty of different habitats for finding a variety of insects, spiders and bugs. Ruaraidh looked at the best places to find minibeasts, how to handle them (as little as possible) and the importance of putting them back where they came from. A piece of slate on the ground provided a good spot for minibeasts to warm themselves under, while a log and flower pot provided a place to live as well as food. Some of the highlights included beetle larvae, a bumble bee with pollen sacs and a wasp nest inside a disused bird house. We were able to see the wasps entering and exiting as well as scrapping marks on wood where they had collected wood which is then chewed and regurgitated to build their nest. He keyed out a woodlouse using the Woodland Trail FSC chart and showed the differences between millipedes and centipedes (2 legs per segment and 1 leg per segment respectively). A snail collection relocated from the vegetable patch led to questions and an interesting discussion about snail reproduction. They are hermaphrodite and when they encounter each other they will fight over which will take on the more energy depleting role of egg producing. We were able to clearly see 2 sets of antennae, one of which is ocular, the other more nasal. The final few minutes of the workshop were given over to questions from the participants which included ‘what is the point of ticks’ (part of a broader ecosystem), the feeding of bee larvae and how do snails grow in their shells (the shells grow with them). The second workshop, Midsummer Nature Walk was delivered by Dan Puplett of Dan Puplett Nature Awareness. Dan’s walk was around Marcassie Farm, Rafford while he pointed out the highlights of the season and interesting finds along the way including wildflowers and diagnostic features for their identification and classification. These included the daisy, which is a composite flower, each of the yellow dots in the centre making up individual flowers – this is a feature of all in the daisy family. The dog rose which has 5 petals, many stamen and serrated leaves – all key features of this family. Also, the ground elder which has an umbrella shaped flower head with clusters of flowers which is indicative of the carrot family; this family contains many poisonous plants. Using a microscope lens on the camera the participants were able to see close up viewing of buttercups, green alkanet, clover and elder flowers. Later we looked at some tree identification starting with the wild cherry (Gean) tree. The cherries were developing but still not ripe, the leaf is serrated (as it is in the rose family) and on the leaf stalk at the base of the leaf are two small glands, these give out chemical signals if the tree is attacked by aphids and this then attracts insects which feed on the aphids. A fantastic example of tree communication! A birch tree was developing tiny seed catkins and we learnt it is a successful pioneer species. Dan also pointed out various bird song. We could hear sparrows and chaffinch and Dan explained that the bird song is tailing off a bit at this time of year as birds are busy nesting and feeding chicks. It gives the opportunity to hear other bird calls including begging and alarm calls. After investigating under a bridge, Dan found otter spraint which is left on rocks or logs to mark territories and a collection of hazelnut shells which had been collected and fed on by a mouse. The hole in the nut was messy with teeth marks around the edge which indicated a mouse rather than a squirrel or vole. Again, this workshop ended with time for questions which included ‘do elder leaves rubbed on the skin deter midges?’ (nothing deters a midge however can work a bit as a fly repellent!) ‘Are rowan berries edible?’ (if cooked, as in rowan jelly but are still quite tart) ‘Best place to replant an oak tree?’ (take into account that it will need space to grow and consider the impact on the landscape) Both workshops were well received and made good use of technology to provide an informative and useful workshop. If any other groups would like to do similar and have any questions please feel free to get in
touch with Moray OWL Group through [email protected] on pop-out lace? Far
AWAY from HOME to fetch me a
Greater Glasgow OWL Group (GROWL Under lockdown, GROWL has put all face-to-face CPD and networking events on hold until restrictions are lifted. We have been working on creating an outdoor learning kit library online booking system (one of our Special Projects). We have also started a weekly online discussion forum for outdoor learning practitioners based in Glasgow. This call is to share challenges and best practice as we get back out into the woods and if any other Owl members are interested in joining, to get in touch directly with our Chair Sophie Kyle at [email protected] GROWL has been approached by a number of schools regarding delivering outdoor learning training to teachers and forest school sessions to pupils from August onwards and we are creating training programmes we can offer schools. We are looking for practitioners to help us deliver these so get in touch at [email protected] if you are interested.
West Dumbartonshire OWL Group WD OWL have been having Zoom meetings to kick-start The Lost Words Project where we aim to create activities to champion 5 of the poems from The Lost Words book by Robert MacFarlane. Activities will cover Literacy, Numeracy, Health & Wellbeing, and Expressive Arts experiences and outcomes and will all be designed to take place outdoors in the hopes this supports practitioners going forward with teaching CfE in the outdoors. Contact us at: [email protected]
Dumfries and Galloway OWL Group
DGOWL are trying out new things to help with maintaining our activities and group during the coronavirus
pandemic. For a while we have been having committee meetings on Zoom and we decided to have our
April meeting virtually too. It was a great success with 10 people able to join in. We started by discussed
how we all were and what we were each doing and if there was any help anyone needed. People were
really positive and were developing new ways of working and volunteering.
Despite the on-going Corona-crisis, it has been business as usual for DGOWL over the last few months.
Undeterred by the limitations of lockdown, the Dumfries and Galloway Environment Fair went ahead as
usual but with an online presence rather than the usual physical event. The Fair, which is in its 24th year,
brings together the public and a wide range of national and community based organisations to celebrate all
that is good about our wonderful natural environment.
This year the group has continued to work with their partners to bring the Fair to life as an online event on
Sunday 31st May. With a mixture of pre-recorded and online content the Fair was available through
YouTube and Facebook with over 5 hours of content covering a range of topics including woods, seashore,
wellbeing and the local biosphere. This was complimented by a series of live zoom webinars which
attracted up to 100 attendees, who learned about subjects as diverse as foraging, science, environment
tourism and dark skies.
The content is still available to watch on our YouTube Channel DGOWL Group.
Alongside all the work that went into the Environment Fair the group has also continued to work on a range
of other projects looking at Training for Teachers, Supporting School Transition and Mental Health and
Wellbeing, which we hope to update you about further in future newsletters.
Next dates for meetings and skill shares in 2020: 8th August 8th October 8th December Lusi Alderslowe co-chair Dumfries and Galloway Outdoor and Woodland Learning Group check us out on Facebook @OWLDG and Twitter @DGOWLGP
South Highland OWL Group Programme for Spring/Summer Saturday CPD workshops The South Highland Outdoor & Woodland Learning (OWL) Group exists to support outdoor learning across the southern half of the Highlands. This group is for outdoor learning practitioners, teachers, early years’ practitioners and anyone with an interest in outdoor learning. All workshops are FREE and count for CPD time for teachers.
Tayside OWL Group Event Calendar
Tayside OWLS have been making use of technology to keep in touch during lockdown. There are now 8 of us on the committee and we have been meeting monthly by zoom and have also had a sub group meeting with regard to our "sister" outdoor playgroup project POP in relation to a Special OWL Grant project for tutor led sessions in the woods. We have ideas for the autumn and winter period including for a rearranged event on tracking with Dan Puplett that we had to postpone due to lockdown (see below) and a winter crafts session/social with our AGM but are waiting to see how and when we can run events and also when we will be able to have access to the Kinnoull Hill Outdoor Classroom again.
Tracking workshop led by Dan Puplett Dan Puplett is a naturalist, outdoor educator and certified wildlife tracker. Date to be confirmed. 10 am – 4 pm @The Shed, Kinnoull Hill, Perth
Tracking is an ancient skill that engages all our senses and helps to develop observation, memory, empathy and deduction abilities. Once we start to unravel a tracking mystery, we find ourselves becoming aware of, and understanding more about, mammals, birds, trees, insects, weather and many other aspects of the natural world. Priority will be given to Tayside OWL Group members and wider OWL Scotland group members Email Penny Martin [email protected] West Fife OWL Group West Fife OWLS propose to deliver 6 CLPL sessions over the first 3 weeks in September. These will focus on early, first and second level literary and numeracy in the outdoors. The CLPL sessions will be conducted in playgrounds to show teachers what they can achieve in their concrete spaces. 1st September 4pm-6pm King’s Road Primary. First level literacy. 3rd September 4pm-6pm Denend Primary. Early level numeracy. 8th September 4pm-6pm King’s Road Primary. First level numeracy. 10th September 4pm-6pm Kelty Primary. Second level numeracy. 15th September 4pm-6pm Kelty Primary. Second level literacy. 17th September 4pm-6pm Denend Primary. Early level numeracy. During our meeting it was recognised that these dates may be subject to change, and that twilight courses may not even run due to unpredictable restrictions on gatherings and playground uses. One participate, who is also a teacher, was saying that his school has strict guidelines on who can access the school as regards to visitors from other school, contractors and parents/carers and this extends to the playground. Even after school the Head may not want others from other schools congregating. We’re waiting on permission and guidance from each Head. We hope to continue our training as soon as we can and into 2021 to reoffer outdoor cooking and basis food hygiene run by Julia MacKay, Kelly kettles – Jenny Ventham, How to pick and set up your outdoor learning site- Jenny Ventham. The First Foresters and Into The Wildwood – Marcia Cook. West Fife OWL Group have 3 different resource kits which are available to borrow. Each kit contains enough materials for a class of up to 30 pupils and can be loaned out for an initial period of two weeks. One of our committee members has kindly offered to drop off and collect kits. Den building Kit: contains a selection of tarpaulins, rope, string, bungees, tent pegs, clothes pegs- add some trees and you have everything you need for a team building challenge.
Fire Kit: contains a folding portable fire pit, Kelly Kettle, Fire steels, water container, fire blanket, fire proof gloves and first aid kit. Pond Dipping Kit: contains 6 white plastic specimen trays, 6 long handled nets, a selection of pots to allow children to observe pond life in close-up and FSC Freshwater identification guides. Can also be used in shallow streams and rock pools. (Kit photos attached) To borrow a kit, please email the group on [email protected] giving your name, School, kit(s) wanted and date required.
NEWS
A Living Classrooms project fully funded by the Scottish Government to support both practitioners and families to engage in nature-based inquiries. Focus on the early years. It offers free training for up to 8 weeks through daily virtual sessions with Dr Claire Warden and families from across Scotland. A flexible project to respond to the issues surrounding Covid 19, join us for anything from a week to the full eight week course. www.virtualnatureschool.org and contact [email protected] for more information and registration.
Resources Scottish Invasive Species Initiative have just launched our new educational resource – Alien Detectives – which is packed full of fun, educational activities to help young people learn about invasive non-native species (INNS). There is a core of activities specifically about INNS (presentations, worksheets, games etc.), as well as a range of activities about exploring the river and the outdoors. In addition, there is a whole page of invasive species themed crafts, games and puzzles – with everything from ‘make an exploding seed pod’ and invasive species top trump cards to crosswords & word searches, so loads for the family to do while home-schooling. The resource is online at www.invasivespecies.scot/alien-detectives
Recipe of the month Forsythia Syrup The blooming bright yellow flowers of the forsythia shrub is one of the first signs of spring, but not everyone knows that the blossoms are edible! Make sure you have permission from the shrub owner to forage the flowers. This spring syrup is perfect on pancakes or stirred into tea. Ingredients 8oz forsythia flowers 237ml water 125ml honey Instructions Collect flowers. Put the forsythia flowers in a half pint jar. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the flowers. Let the flower tea steep for several hours or overnight, until it has completely cooled to room temperature. Strain the flowers, then stir in the honey. Add honey to taste depending on desired sweetness level. Store in the refrigerator and it will keep for 3-4 weeks. www.growforagecookferment.com/ Quote of the month “Learning can only happen when a child is interested. If he is not interested it’s like throwing marshmallows at his head and calling it eating.” Katrina Gutleben
Activity of the Month Grass Braiding This simple activity encourages children to learn how to braid using long grasses. Collect long strands of grass which provides a great opportunity to identify the various species of grass and the kind of environment they prefer. Why not look for the longest, thickest, thinnest, greenest grass while collecting?
To start off join 3 grass strands together at one end with plastic snap lock or peg and make a simple braid. Experiment with adding more grass strands to make thicker braids or try other braid types such as fish tails. Can they be joined together and what could you make with them? Bracelets, hair bands,
mobiles, etc. www.mothernatured.com
Fact of the Month Did you know that moss was the first plant to survive on solid ground as they have evolved from algae? Collective noun of the month A bloat of Hippopotamuses Species of the Month Viruses These are the smallest microbe on Earth. They are non-living and don’t eat. They don’t reproduce, until they invade living beings when they become active. A virus is merely a packet of DNA information. This packet of information is like an instruction manual on how to reproduce. Surrounding this packet is a protective coat made from protein. This coat is called a capsid. The capsid has spikes that allow it to grab onto a host. They travel from host to host through the water droplets in the air, through blood, in water, or in food. Insects, such as mosquitoes, can spread viruses from person to person or animal to animal. Aphids spread viruses to plants when they suck the juice from them. When a virus attacks the human body, the body remembers it. The next time it invades, your body is ready to fight it off. Some viruses, though, like the flu, can change so you can get it more than once. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. When a virus enters your body, it hijacks a cell and begins reproducing. The cell explodes and the virus cells move on to infect other cells in your body. Vaccines and anti-viral drugs can fight viruses. The human body is made to fight off viruses too. www.easyscienceforkids.com Plant of the Month Bog rosemary / Andromeda polifolia This is very widespread in boggy habitats and thrives in both wet and dry bog moss hummocks, fens and peat-covered areas beside ponds. The plant is also known as Marsh Rosemary and Marsh Andromeda and is part of the heather family – Ericaceae. A perennial dwarf shrub that grows to a height of 10–30 cm). Stems are sparsely branched and woody. The flower is pink and shallowly 5-lobed on long-stalked nodding stems. Leaves are alternate, short-stalked, erect, overwintering. The plant’s annual growth is lime green or with slightly reddish shades and is covered with a greyish, wax-like film. Strangely bloated and beautiful wine-red shoots can quite often be found in the bogs – in this case the plant has been destroyed by a fungus. Black patches on the leaves on the other hand, are a sign that the plant is being attacked by another kind of fungus. Plant-eaters do not bother with bog rosemary as it contains andromedotoxin which is very poisonous. Bog rosemary’s flower buds develop already in the previous growing season.
The flower is beautiful, and as it contains nectar and is fragrant it is clearly intended to attract pollinators. These do not however fly around bogs much at the beginning of summer when the plant is flowering, so for safety’s sake it is self-pollinating. Especially on the northern bogs and fell areas, the seeds do not develop at all, but the species is not dependent on its seeds to propagate itself. It spreads efficiently through its underground rootstock and runners. www.britannica.com www.luontoportti.com Other news Check out the latest Outdoor Learning news from Scotland Have a look at Outdoor Learning Directory news page, where you’ll find fresh updates, including news and resources from the Learning in Local Greenspace project. http://outdoorlearningdirectory.com/index.php/news/
Contact:
To contact your local OWL group please go to the OWL Scotland website
Or contact us:
Bonnie Maggio Education Programme Manager Scottish Forestry 231 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 7AT [email protected]
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