School Holidays

[Wild-Woman]

Well we're approaching that time of year again when teachers can breathe a sigh of relief and parents can be heard all over the land saying nooooo!
Just wondered if anyone is off to some nice wildlifey type of holidays or just chilling at home, not having to rush the school run each day.
Have you got some days out planned....ideas that can be shared amongst parents, preferably wildlife based stuff for the ankle nibblers and bigger?

Me-I'm going lay down in a field and sleep.

Jules zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[colinaj]

Our local church is setting up a Conservation area and I have agreed to help. we will be organisingbug hunts and recording days for childrens groups.

[nutmeg]

Being both teacher and parent I don't get much chance to breathe a sigh of relief!

I plan to take my children to various local nature reserves - something we do most weekends anyway. We also look out for events organised by the local Wildlife Trust. Then there's the garden... currently a rather overgrown wilderness.

My daughter is getting into photography and I've just bought her a not bad point and shoot, so I hope she'll be recording what she spots

[GME]

Being both teacher and parent I don't get much chance to breathe a sigh of relief!

I plan to take my children to various local nature reserves - something we do most weekends anyway. We also look out for events organised by the local Wildlife Trust. Then there's the garden... currently a rather overgrown wilderness.

I'm very much like nutmeg - teacher and parent. And coincidently my 'ankle biter' and I spent most of the day tidying up the garden - must be a teacher thing that the garden gets neglected until the next holiday! We caught loads of creepy crawlies (well, we moved them to a safe haven while I removed a few weeds). Likewise, we'll be visiting a variety of nature reserves over the next few weeks - just so glad the hols are here!!

As I live in Blackpool we have one big advantage - a beach on our doorstep!! Following our gardening adventure we spent the evening looking for crabs and collecting shells around the rock pools. Great fun!

Look forward to reading about everyone else's plans and exploits

Gareth

[demicav]

We will be going to pwllheli next week for 2 weeks, then we're home for two weeks, then we go to Cornwall for two weeks. With 3 children it will be hard work but I'm drawn to the wildlife. In Pwllheli it's a beautiful coastline with so many wonderful creatures but the Adders are like a magnet for us, I'll hopefully get some more pics and just to be near them is such a privilege.

I've never been to Cornwall before, although my other half has. We will be exploring everywhere for wildlife. My daughter just got her own camera for her 9th birthday so I'm sure she'll be snapping away.

I'm hoping for some dry weather and hopefully I'll get some good shots to share on WAB when I return .

[Paul mabbott]

Looking at this from the opposite side ...
We have always been into 'nature' holidays, as you might guess, and usually, involving some coastal activity. Had some marvellous times when the lads were young on the Gower, around Borth and elsewhere in Wales .... but it's not warm (although things might have improved with climate change!). So about ten years ago we started going to the Med - generally cheaper with better food, interesting insects and mainly warmer water!
This year we (the wife and I) expected to be alone but the youngest is coming down on the train for a week. It's sad in some ways (probably more for the missues ...) but there are advantages - not having to look out for Pizzerias, or other vegetarian friendly eating places; not having to wait an hour for him to have a shower; not having to bellow for an hour to wake them up each morning ....
Hope you all have good holidays - enjoy them!

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Well we're approaching that time of year again when teachers can breathe a sigh of relief and parents can be heard all over the land saying nooooo!
Just wondered if anyone is off to some nice wildlifey type of holidays or just chilling at home, not having to rush the school run each day.
Have you got some days out planned....ideas that can be shared amongst parents, preferably wildlife based stuff for the ankle nibblers and bigger?

Me-I'm going lay down in a field and sleep.

Jules zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Wild-Woman]

Our children are all grown-ups now, but they will always refer to holidays spent either in Cornwall or the Isle of Wight with fondness.They remember some bits with such clarity,it amazes me.
They were never expensive holidays (certainly couldn't afford abroad/hotels etc) but I think they had just as much fun.
They used to love rock-pooling and beach-combing along the south I.O.W beaches especially to find fossils.

One activity my daughter recalls doing during the break was clay modelling. We used to buy a big tub of clay, set the dining room table up and just let them blast their ideas out in clay. We then had a line of 'creations' drying out down the garden path. Great fun.

Keep ideas coming if possible...we'd like to hear about them.

[Kymba]

I have done a separate Thread called Wildlife Activities to link to this One ( didn't want to Hijack Jules Thread ).
Its In "The TreeHouse" and hopefully people will add to it right through the Summer Holidays

[mrs fish]

As a TA and parent I am so looking forward to Friday, the girls are off on a girls brigade camp fri eve and I'm off to minsmere sat
We migrate 12 miles east every year to Felixstowe for two weeks, we spend quite a bit of time on Landguard NR
The holidays are usually just for catching up on house and garden jobs and chilling in the fish household

[pressld2]

With my eldest starting university in September there'll be no holiday this year for cashless Dave!

But there will be as many days out as we can manage and the weather will allow and most of these will be wildlife related in some way. One definite trip will be to the London Wetlands Centre. Last week of of the school year (i.e. this week) at my younger son's school is "activity week" and, as well as the school-based activities, there are a lot of visits to local places of interest to choose from. The school are doing a trip to the LWC but it is on the same day as a theatre trip that Tom wanted to go on and he was struggling to decide which he wanted most. So I suggested he does the theatre with the school and we'll do the wetlands in the holidays and take cameras with us - problem solved!

Dave P.

[Batgirl]

We are off to Dorset this year, so will be visiting Monkey World. And we have Lea Valley Country Park and Epping forest on our doorstep, so will be spending some time there.

[Gill Catton]

my lovely chap and I aim to travel the entire coast of Britain in the next two years so in September (probably) we will be doing wales no children to worry about though hence going in Sept when the prices will be less!!

Cornwall is lovely I went there many times as a child and have fond memories of catching crabs on the harbour eating mussels for the first time, it has left me with a real love for the seaside but many of us on tis island have such a love I suppose!

P.S. Cornwall is very good for fudge

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

my lovely chap and I aim to travel the entire coast of Britain in the next two years so in September (probably) we will be doing wales no children to worry about though hence going in Sept when the prices will be less!!

Cornwall is lovely I went there many times as a child and have fond memories of catching crabs on the harbour eating mussels for the first time, it has left me with a real love for the seaside but many of us on tis island have such a love I suppose!

P.S. Cornwall is very good for fudge

I've heard many nice things about Cornwall but the way the weather's going not sure I'll see much of it . Then again surely it won't rain for the whole 2 weeks

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Batgirl

We are off to Dorset this year, so will be visiting Monkey World. And we have Lea Valley Country Park and Epping forest on our doorstep, so will be spending some time there.

Dorset sounds great, it was between Cornwall and Dorset for us but we decided on Cornwall as there seemes to be so much going on for kids, as well as great wildlife. Dorset is also fantastic for wildlife and I've no doubt we will try and get there next year.

[Merlin]

After years of beautiful Devon cottage holidays,the family and I are heading up to the Lake District for a activity holiday on Lake Derwent.Never been berfore looking forward to the whole hoilday,apart from the worst thing in the world, driving! Its a long way from Wales!


Merlin

[almostnormal]

Originally Posted by Merlin

After years of beautiful Devon cottage holidays,the family and I are heading up to the Lake District for a activity holiday on Lake Derwent.Never been berfore looking forward to the whole hoilday,apart from the worst thing in the world, driving! Its a long way from Wales!

Merlin

yep. but its a faulous drive lots of fantastic scenery all the way up, and derwent is amazing. well worth the effort. we used to go down to the south for our holidays, but mum and dad ay we're too old now for family holidays. sigh. they're dragging me to a family wedding though. apparently i'm now old enough for those

[jordanno]

yey summer holidays!!!!!!!!!!!! cant wait 2 more days of school than ill be a year 8 we watch dvds and things for this week anyway so it passes by quite quickly my older brother promised me hell take me to the lake district sometime i hope he keeps his promise hopefullly if he does take me i might see some intresting animals and carnivorous plants along with many other things .also would see all the lovely scenery and do hiking and camping yey! how i would love to live in the lake district

[jj-harrishawker]

go do some shooting, good day out

[Kymba]

Comming from Devon and having all my relations living in Cornwall they are the two Places i avoid completely in the summer.. Bleeding Tourists everywhere
Growing up there you grow to hate the Tourists and cant wait for the summer to be over and for them all to go home.. So i will go and see my family in September

[pressld2]

Well, in spite of being car-less thanks to a lunatic boy-racer trying to take a roundabout at 60+, we did manage the promised trip to the London Wetland Centre. Fortunately it's not difficult by rail, being just a ten minute walk from Barnes station.

There is quite a selection of non-native species there, mainly exotic geese and ducks, but plenty of British wildlife too.

The highlights for me were the great crested grebes as I managed to get closer than ever before...



...and the Marsh Frogs who gave me a good excuse to crawl about in the mud looking for "eye-level" shots while wifey shrieked about the state of my trousers...



There were also lots of this bird which I couldn't identify at first but am now pretty sure is a juvenile moorhen...



Dave P.

[jdurbo]

Nice pictures!!!
I'm glad the holidays are nearly over..love having my little boy at home but i need a rest now

jen xxx