Having a wild time on the Lizard

Children and their families have had an exciting few months on the Lizard thanks to the Wild Lizard Project. And they're not the only ones, I'm Megan Adams and I was lucky enough to join the Linking the Lizard team in April as the first Wild Lizard Intern.

Working with Wild Lizard Ranger Claire Scott, I've been helping out with the 100s of children and young people the Wild Lizard Project gets outside to enjoy and learn more about the incredible surroundings we have on the Lizard. Since starting in April I've helped schools pitch camp and brave the wilds during bushcraft survival days and shared my ID skills as pupils submerged themselves in different habitats, searching rockpools and dragonfly ponds for the incredible life that lives there.
 

Several schools have made the most of the projects' bushcraft expertise taking part in one-off days of Climate Change Survival. Grade Ruan and Manaccan Primary schools headed to Poltesco valley for shelter building from natural materials, baking bread over the fire and scaring off invaders with scary clay faces. While Landewednack School took an expedition to Tremayne Woods for two days of survival skills, including fire lighting, camouflage and team rescue games. Secondary school pupils from Mullion explored the science of using different plants for water, food, fire and signalling while on a day of nature exploration at Bochym.

Schools have also been taking the chance to get students outdoors to continue their learning, primary schools from Mullion and Cury have headed each week to Higher Bochym, part of the National Nature Reserve, to make the most of the yurt, ponds and meadow. Taking part in maths trails of quadrats and patterns, to seed planting and story telling and even a noisy day of making musical interments from bamboo!

With outings most weeks to beaches around the Lizard and Helford for rockpooling, students from Constantine, Mawnan, Landewednack and Mullion, as well as myself, have all been learning all about the amazing seashore diversity we have along our coast. Making the day memorable with sea creature based art and games, as well as the all important rummage in the rockpools.


With summer holidays coming up Wild Lizard Project will be making sure that visitors and residents have the chance to get out and engage with their environment with activities planned throughout the holidays. Starting off with our first ever family Wild Camp, a two day camp out at Tremayne Woods with night walks, green woodworking and bat detecting, the camp was fully booked which we hope will set a precedent for years to come.

Following last years success Go Wild Bushcraft Club will be running again throughout August, with children attending each week, building their skills and confidence in bushcraft techniques. The National Nature Reserve at Kennack Sands will host free weekly rockpooling and beach craft activities of all ages, during Wild Wednesdays through out the holidays. Pop-up events will also be happening at local Teneriffe Campsite with natural crafts, chances to explore the area and plans to introduce evening wildlife activities.

Hope to see you there!




- Megan