Pond dipping, edible bugs, and lambing will be on the timetable for children from Newport schools this month, thanks to a new nature initiative from the organisers of the town’s annual show.
Around 120 children from four schools will take part in the Spring Explorers activity programme that is being organised by the Newport and District Agricultural Society, in partnership with Harper Adams University, at its home at Chetwynd Deer Park.
During the two-hour sessions, children will participate in a series of nature-based tasks to learn more about wildlife, animals and the environment.
Activities will include a talk about ewes and lambs with the Harper Adams University shepherd Giles Vince, investigating the park’s colony of Yellow Meadow ants which is believed to be one of the largest in the Midlands, learning more about the pond life in the park’s pool, testing edible bugs and trying their hand in nature filled sensory boxes.
It is the first year that Spring Explorers has been run by the Society, which holds the Newport Show at the Chetwynd Deer Park each July. The sessions were devised in conjunction with the university’s entomology department.
The schools involved are Newport’s Castle House and St Peter’s and Paul’s Catholic Primary, Tibberton Primary and St Peter’s C of E Primary from Edgmond. Each school will be sending its year 4 class of eight and nine-year-olds to take part.
Show manager Clare Farrell said: “We are very excited to introduce our Spring Explorers programme, which aims to raise awareness among the younger generation about the environment around us.
“Our home at Chetwynd Deer Park is teeming with wildlife activity and we have designed a programme that will be fun and informative. It is something we hope all our local schools take advantage of in future years.”
This year’s Newport Show takes place on July 8 with more than 140 livestock and equine classes, main ring entertainment including live performances on stage from The Festival of Food features guest star Candice Brown, the winner of last year’s Great British Bake Off.
