The children travel down the River Avon in Bell boats supported by teachers from the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. Journeying through an inland water system the children are able to get a better understanding of the most valuable natural resource on the planet.

 

Here the children will have the opportunity to visit an area of natural habitat that provides a safe and secure home for bats, birds, fish, snakes, insects and small mammals to thrive. The river is home for a number of species including dragonflies, native butterflies, ladybirds, shield bugs, aphids, pond skaters, water boatmen and leafhoppers. These insects are an essential element in this balanced ecosystem creating the basis of the food chains for larger animals along with pollinated plants, decomposing waste and recycling nutrients.

​

Using the hides the children can also spot little grebes, tufted ducks, lapwings, coots, snipes, swans, shrews, bats, rabbits, western hedgehogs, moles, stoats and weasels.

​

The children will learn about:-

​

• Water courses including the water cycle and river wildlife

• Water uses – Domestic, agricultural, industry, recreation and wildlife

• Water issues – Pollution, Overconsumption, Droughts & Floods

• The importance of clean water sources.

• Where we get daily water from

• Impacts of pollution on water sources & how to stop it

​

 This day increases the children's awareness of pollution within our river ecosystems and the need to protect wildlife that depend on ithem. It also helps them to understand the need for water conservation in the home whilst consolidating their knowledge of river features, food chains and water cycles. This leads to them using water more wisely and reduces the amount of household pollutants released into the water system.

​

Please click here for classroom resources and consolidation lesson plans for teachers

​