Amazing developement on my Wildlife centre

Kymba · #1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:02 PM

I have just been sent this e/mail from a local school in medway

'I have been given your details showing that you are interested in developing a Wildlife Centre/Area for Medway Children.
We have received some initial funding to support a similar project in one of our playgrounds. We also have large amounts of unused woodland areas around the school which would suit many of your proposals.
We would be happy to show you around the grounds for you to establish whether or not you think they would be suitable.
I hope to hear from you soon!'

So I phoned them immediately and I am going to see them and their grounds tomorrow morning. The school is for 7 to 11 year olds. They are already developing a Sensory garden, vegetable patch, compost corner, bat boxes, Bird boxes, in the main school grounds.

They want me to use the woodland that they have to develop my ideas and to work in partnership with them.

Gill Catton · #2 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:07 PM

That's brilliant!! Congratulations

could be exactly the starting point you have been looking for fantastic. Hope it goes smoothly!

Would be interesting to know what kind of woodland it is and whether it has any characteristics of ancient woodland (there's a list of species in the back of the new Francis Rose wild flower key of ancient woodland indicators if that helps) - also if you look at Old Maps and find the site it might give you an idea as to how old the woodland or boundary hedges etc might be..... Oooh you could Contact your local biological records centre see if there are any Dormouse records nearby - might be worth putting up Dormouse boxes etc (though then you need a licence if they actually start showing up) sorry getting ahead of things aren't I'm dead excited for you!!

Kymba · #3 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:25 PM

Cheers Gill.. You wouldn't believe how excited I am

And they are really excited about the prospect to

Will wait till I go tomorrow and get as much info as possible then do as you suggest. All I know is that the School owns all the woodland

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:33 PM

Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre (KMBRC)

For future use.....

smartie · #5 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:56 PM

Oh, Kymba, what great news. I'm so pleased for you - and potentially for the children - and hope it works out. I've got everything crossed that I'm still physically capable of

Kymba · #6 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 01:07 PM

Thanks Smartie
Will have some more news after the visit tomorrow
Will take my camera and get some Pics of the woodland and also the area they are already developing

nightshade · #7 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 01:39 PM

I am very pleased for you Kym,fingers crossed

John · #8 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 03:27 PM

That is stunning news Kymba. I hope it takes off in a big way for you. The kids can certainly benefit from schemes like this and I hope it mushrooms into other schools coming on board.

We could do with more people like your good self. With more schemes like this involving children of the age you are looking at I can see a lot more children staying on the straight and narrow in the future. Certainly not only can the children benefit bit so can our wildlife as a result of more understanding on the way nature works. Good luck with it all.

On a different note, and this is not a criticism in any way as these checks may have all ready been put in place, but have the school done any sort of checks on you. This is not just for you but anyone that is invited to take part in teaching children. I would hope they have something in place because you really don't know who you are inviting into a school nowadays.

I know you are fully aware of this need and are prepared for it but it beggars belief that a school can just invite someone along to look after children of that age.

I feel awful pointing that out but my hackles came up a bit when it seemed like a school appeared a bit naive in their initial approach to you. Mind you that could be answered by the source where they got your name from. I suppose if it is a tried and trusted source then that is ok.

Just my ramblings, and I hope you don't take offense by what I have said as I really do hope it takes off in a big way. Not only that but when it does it will make interesting reading on WAB as the project gets off the ground.

John

John

Kymba · #9 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 04:40 PM

Cheers John , and No offence taken

The school will do a check On me after I go tomorrow,(I will make sure of it). I will give them all my details so it can be done right away. I dont think anyone should work with Children unless they make sure who ever is employing them does a police check. I know i wouldn't want my kids somewhere, where this check hasn't been done

John · #10 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymba

Cheers John , and No offence taken

Phew!! thank goodness. You never know whether what you type is being read the way it's meant to be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymba

The school will do a check On me after I go tomorrow,(I will make sure of it). I will give them all my details so it can be done right away. I dont think anyone should work with Children unless they make sure who ever is employing them does a police check. I know i wouldn't want my kids somewhere, where this check hasn't been done

Absolutely.

I hope you keep us informed how things go on. You never know, you might even give other members an idea to do something similar once they see how things pan out.

John

Garden Carpet · #11 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 05:15 PM

Kymba, that is absolutly marvelous news! Good luck for tomorrow. Will be eagerly looking for more news tomorrow.
jaki

m1keanderson · #12 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 05:50 PM

Great news

If you are looking to find some formal training in using woodlands for education and development then have a look at Forest Schools UK. Find your local Forest School As they say "Since its introduction Forest Schools has developed opportunities in an outdoor setting for children and adults of all ages to develop a variety of life skills: independence, self-discovery and communication, all of which assist individuals to grow in self-esteem and confidence.
Participants gain confidence in their own ability. Kinaesthetic learners [learning by doing] are particularly suited to learning in this woodland outdoor environment."

There is also Earth Education The Institute for Earth Education - UK Branch which "is the process of helping people build an understanding of, appreciation for, and a harmony with the earth and its life"

Whilst neither are essential they both can help develop your skills in understanding how the woodland can be used as an educational tool and how to connect children with it in an entertaining way (after all, they probably have enough dry/formal education in the classroom).

Sorry if the words eggs, suck and granny come to mind

Best wishes

Mike

badgerwatcher · #13 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 08:11 PM

Oh, WOW, Kym. That's great! Good luck.

Kymba · #14 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks all..
Will update you tomorrow, have spent most of the afternoon and all evening, getting all my folders etc in order to take with me for them to see what i intend to do... Anyone got a pack Mule to carry them for me

M1 thanks for the link but they haven't got a Forest School in kent

and the other one is in Buckinhamshire.. so that to is miles away

Wild-Woman · #15 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 06:14 AM

This is excellent news indeed. Good luck for today! Keep up the pressure.

Jules

nightshade · #16 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 07:22 AM

I hope I am not too late GOOD LUCK KYM TODAY

Kymba · #17 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 01:25 PM

Well what a day

I spent two hours at the school and they want me to take on the managing and running of the Woodland but working in partnership with them.

They will pay my wages for a year, Get me my own Porta cabin to go in the woods as a classroom, besides their own school children using it , they will try and get other schools to come and use it to as well as the Local community (Iam on cloud nine)
It wont be up and running for quite a while as there is Loads to do... I have to get someone who knows about Woodland and Trees to come and make sure all the trees are ok, We have to Make walkways through the woods for the children (health and safety). To start with it may only be as a lunchtime and after school club for their children until it can be fitted in with their tight Curriculum. But others may want to use it during the day. They are also prepared for it to be used some weekends and for part of the school Holidays..
They are now going to apply for the larger funding and grants and I am going to apply for the smaller ones,to pay for the work and developement that is needed. Plus grants for all equiptment that will be needed (my own computors, Digital Cameras, and what ever else that will be needed) They also want me to have a say in the Wildlife areas and Sensory gardens they have already got funding for and are at the planning stage of

I can't believe it is really happening

I have another meeting with them in 2 weeks time... They have kept my File of My Activity Plans and ideas, to look at properly, but they said they were really impressed with it after a quick look.. I have taken 3 photo's of the woods ( will take more next time because i will walk through it.. The ones i took were from the outside looking in in..) I just not sure where to put the photo's or how to load them onto here from my computor

Thanks for all your support and backing it means a lot to me

Garden Carpet · #18 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kymba

Well what a day

I spent two hours at the school and they want me to take on the managing and running of the Woodland but working in partnership with them.

They will pay my wages for a year, Get me my own Porta cabin to go in the woods as a classroom, besides their own school children using it , they will try and get other schools to come and use it to as well as the Local community (Iam on cloud nine)
It wont be up and running for quite a while as there is Loads to do... I have to get someone who knows about Woodland and Trees to come and make sure all the trees are ok, We have to Make walkways through the woods for the children (health and safety). To start with it may only be as a lunchtime and after school club for their children until it can be fitted in with their tight Curriculum. But others may want to use it during the day. They are also prepared for it to be used some weekends and for part of the school Holidays..
They are now going to apply for the larger funding and grants and I am going to apply for the smaller ones,to pay for the work and developement that is needed. Plus grants for all equiptment that will be needed (my own computors, Digital Cameras, and what ever else that will be needed) They also want me to have a say in the Wildlife areas and Sensory gardens they have already got funding for and are at the planning stage of

I can't believe it is really happening

I have another meeting with them in 2 weeks time... They have kept my File of My Activity Plans and ideas, to look at properly, but they said they were really impressed with it after a quick look.. I have taken 3 photo's of the woods ( will take more next time because i will walk through it.. The ones i took were from the outside looking in in..) I just not sure where to put the photo's or how to load them onto here from my computor

Thanks for all your support and backing it means a lot to me

Kymba, that is absobloominglutly wonderful, well done you gal. Congratulations. To load pics you go to gallery, then upload and follow the instructions. Your pics need to be a certain size too... which of course i cant remember
There are instructions tips etc at the top of the forum pages above the list of who is online. Look forward to seeing them
jaki

Kymba · #19 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 04:37 PM

MMMM!!

I looked at the tips where you said. I followed the link and then i got totally lost

I have loaded the photo's into My Pictures on AOL, But have also left them on my camera....Think i need to be rescued by a knight in shinning Armour to get them in the gallery.. me and computors dont go well together

nightshade · #20 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 04:53 PM

Hooray you are set now(except for the hard work)

In my day when the school had projects the PARENTS
supplied the labour,could be a starting point
Perhaps The Woodland Trust could help out with someone
that knows trees

badgerwatcher · #21 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 05:09 PM

That's absolutely amazing, Kym. I'm so pleased for you, and for the children you will be working with. Congratulations. You must have presented it all very well, for them to offer you all that!

m1keanderson · #22 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 06:27 PM

Great news Kym.

Is there going to be a written partnership agreement? If so you need to decide who is going to be responsible for the trees. You will need an annual assessment of their health (which can cost £15+ per tree) and this will probably result in tree surgery (£150+ for a simple fell but once you start bringing in MEWPs (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms - climbing is beginning to be frowned on by the HSE) things start to escalate). If you don't have any free luck with the local authority's tree officer then have a look at Arboricultural Association Website 2006 - Home Page for local consultants who can give a quote for what you need. What I'm trying to angle at is let the school take the responsibility - they probably will want to anyway.

John · #23 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 06:46 PM

Hi Kym

That is absolutely stunning news. It really does look like a dream come true. That is a real acheivment on your part and I wish you all the success you deserve. It would be great for all of us if you could post photos to this, or any other thread, so we can see how all this is progressing and to this end I have typed up a few instructions that hopefully will help you do that.

Tips on loading your photos onto WAB then linking them to this, or any other, thread.

First you obviously have to save them on your computer. Try and save them something with an image size something like 800 x 600. The other thing you have to watch is file size. Try for no more than 250kb file size. Once all that is established you go to the gallery and click on upload.

You will then see a section of buttons that say Browse. You click on Browse and this allows you to search out any files on your PC. Search out the files you want to upload and click on each one. At this point, until you get used to doing this, it might pay you to upload each photo one at a time.

After you have selected your file and clicked on it you will see the file path appear by the side of the Browse button. Once that is done you will see below a section that wants you to put a title to your file. If it is a particular tree and you know the scientific name so much the better but if it is just a general description (say my local wood, for instance) then just type that in. If you name a particular tree with a scientific name you have to put the full name of the tree, then a space then a hyphen followed by a space then the scientific name. Look at some photos in the gallery to see what i mean.

Next you will see a drop down box asking you to choose a catergory. If it is trees you are uploading you could either choose the catergory Trees and Shrubs or the more general catergory Forum Images. The latter is used for any images that you are only uploading to attach to thereads (you can attach photos from other catergories as well).

Next you will see a section saying Keywords. This is for anybody that might be searching for particular things. Let say you have uploaded a photo of a Silver Birch. You type in Silver Birch in that section. If you have the scientific name as well then add that but leave out the hyphen this time.

The next box is for what equipment you used to take the photo. Not completely necessary for these type of photos but can be useful to those looking at them.

The next thing to do is click on receive e-mail updates at the bottom. If you do this you will receive e-mail alerts if anyone comments on your photos. After doing that click on submit. It will eventually open into another window with all the information you have entered. If there are any mistakes you can rectify them.