Warm, cloudy but, happily dry, the 18th June was the day when 21 pre-school age children from the St Briavels Early Years and 17 from the School’s reception class visited flower meadows at Hollyside Farm, Brockweir Common.
The meadows..permanent pasture which has not been artificially fertilised..support an amazing variety of flowering plants from the aptly-named ragged robin, through to yellow rattle, bright blue bugle and the pink and white spires of spotted orchid.
The younger children seemed completely at home ranging through the the meadow though they were so small that they virtually disappeared if they sat down in the long grasses.They collected samples of the different flowers, swept the grasses with nets to catch small grasshoppers and beetles, smelt the mint, tasted sorrel, watched a demonstration of how bees pollinate orchids, pushed their fingers into tunnels under molehills, watched two Dexter cows being fed and soaked up the scene as they ate their picnics.
The reception class followed in the afternoon and also seemed delighted with the experience. As well as the meadow they went into the deciduous woodland which would have been carpeted with bluebells a month before. The sweep nets again were very popular though I don’t think anyone managed to catch the small butterflies, but I know that many saw an ant’s nest with the workers frantically carrying eggs to safety, and most can discriminate between cow, rabbit and fox droppings! Before leaving, these children enjoyed snacks and drinks whilst sitting on hay bales in the barn.
Thanks are due to Jean Green for providing the venue for the day and for her welcoming hospitality, to the staff and parents for organising the transport and for supervising the children so effectively.
I believe we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves..as one of the Early Years children said very thoughtfully and distinctly as she looked over the meadow..’I LOVE this place’. Result!