Settle Wildflowers 152: Ivy - Eco-explorers - Settle Parish churchyard

 

A white sheet was placed under the ivy (see foreground top left), we bashed the ivy with a stick and looked for insects which landed on the sheet.

October 2nd  - Eco-Explorers at 4pm.

Two  weeks ago we had spread out a white sheet under the holly tree , knocked the branches with a stick and looked at the creatures- insects that fell off it.

That was such a success that we tried it again this week.  We tried horse chestnut tree and holly tree which yield a spider and a fly. We tried a different species - Ivy in flower - and that had lots more under it.

Even a two year old can discover more using a hand lens. - I think this is a record in our group though.

The ivy bush - technically growing in the Settle Carlisle Line Railway land.

I have never noticed the curly ridges on the ivy before.

Fox and Cubs still out in the grassland

You might have noticed our young hero has a white badge with a big S on his arm.

They had been doing the letter S in phonics today at school. 

 At the Sticky bud tree (Horse Chestnut) beside the Church we all had fun discovering Spiders, and Snails and putting String into conkers.

Reflections:-

I had a quick look round but failed to find any FUNGI as we had done two years ago.

People say there are far fewer insects this year. I agree. The fact that we were interested in the wasp - well in earlier years we would have been pestered by wasps all late summer. Not this year with its excessive rain.

I am so grateful for the two families that came. and are keen.

It meant the meeting took place. It meant that I discovered creatures and there in the centre of Settle, below the Settle Carlisle Railway

We have over ten families on our list (maybe 15 or 20 including those who came to summer camp)  but there are so many other activities arranged for children nowadays (one of our regulars has now started gymnastics , others go swimming or to brownies/guides), or parents / grandparents have to work, that very few come. 

Some people say "Arrange another event in the half term holiday" -  but then we discover that nearly every family goes off somewhere else at half term.

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