Blue Remembered Hills Project
Education and Interpretation
Education
The Shropshire Hills form a wonderful outdoor classroom. The exceptional diversity of the area's geology, ecology, communities and traditions means there is something of interest for people of all ages. The Project is able to provide support to local schools, colleges and groups who would like to explore the Shropshire Hills landscape further.
What the project has been up to
During the last three years we have learnt all sorts of weird and wonderful things and visited every corner of the AONB. We have enjoyed weekly Forest School sessions with a local nursery and primary school, explored the watery world of the Long Mynds’ streams, investigated man’s impact on the landscape of the Stiperstones and scoured local meadows, woodlands and fields for myriad invertebrates. We have charmed worms and investigated what happens when you scratch and sniff with shield bugs. We’ve used pupil power to plant hundreds of trees in school grounds, carpeted Nipstones rock with heather, watched an approaching rainstorm from the top of Earl’s Hill and listened to the curlew call through swirling mists in Clun Forest.
As well as supporting visits to wild places in the AONB we have undertaken art projects using textiles, natural materials and charcoal, explored local hedges and looked at levels of pollution along local water courses.
The BRH project is not just about us doing the teaching. We have worked alongside local teachers preparing curriculum materials to support education outside the classroom, helping them make better and increased use of the opportunities that exist beyond the school gates for learning.
For more information on the Education work of the project contact:
Janet Keeble on 01743 284280 or email janetk@shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Click here for further information on the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
Interpretation
Provoke, reveal and relate are key words in interpretation. The project aims to do just this to help people understand and appreciate the Shropshire Hills.
In 2005, 52 events took place in the Shropshire Hills, ranging from river geology and practical conservation skills to ‘Choosing Apples by Flavour’. The production of a Shropshire Hills Events Calendar in collaboration with other organisations meant that for the first time a wide range of events were listed in one place.
In the first two years of the project over 300 people were involved in training in practical conservation skills. Activities included pruning, curlew and lapwing surveys, identifying and surveying great crested newts, growing trees from seed and tree planting.
The project has also supported an interpretative display about hedgerows through Museum on the Move. This takes the display to more remote locations in a specially designed van. It was seen by 2110 people in the first quarter of 2005. Feedback included that it “was a brilliant and enriching experience”, “represents excellent value for money” and “great for schools in rural areas”.