Earth, Wind & Fire

What a relief after the deluge of the past two days, a dry and partially sunny day.  Today we had 30 more pupils from Hipswell Primary School visit at Foxglove, this time it was years four and five.  We split them into three groups, so they each had a turn at going on an Autumn walk, Pond Dipping and Mini Beast hunting.

The Autumn themed walk, taking in Risedale Beck and part of the heathland, focused on different seeds and the many methods they use to disperse themselves, from wind, exploding pods, hooks that catch on fur, or simply being eaten then passing through the gut of animals or birds and coming out the other end somewhere else.

Pond dipping proved very successful today, with a large Water Boatman and Great Diving Beetle being found.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the reserve, our regular Thursday group of volunteers were manning a bonfire of all the brash we have amassed from the last couple of weeks.

A big thank you to everyone who helped out today.