Resources
Learning & Teaching Resources
Map No. 1: The School Site
with Key Nature Trail Features
Key:
1:
Sandpit: Evidence of recent fox activity I
2:
More evidence of fox activity: claw marks
3:
Ash
4:
Field Maple
5:
Fox's killing ground; one of eight.
6:
Fox droppings
7:
Marshmallow
8:
Blackberries with 'bramble' leaves
9:
Fox's look-out
10:
Acid needles from the Cypress conifer trees maked the ground 'sterile', that is nothing will grow.
11:
Fox run
Records
[[ On each of the following dates Year 5 undertake orienteering and wilderness survival skills programme during the morning ]].
14 September: Trail made around perimeter of school field. Detail above. All yr 6 pupils taken around the new Trail. This Trail is walked every week and a record made of the seasonal changes.
5 October: conditions are still virtually summer. We (all yr 6s) trawl the site for eveidence of wildlife activity.
12 October: photos taken and the last of the 'summer' conditions noted. Study of the age of the trees undertaken. We found that the oldest tree was a poplar which was 125 yrs old. This stands in the far south west corner of the site on the highest ground. One tree the pupils found, through their measurements and calculations, was exactly 100 years old and was officially named 'The Centenarian'.
19 October: photos taken at the start of Autumn. We do a very comprehensive study of leaves (and therefore trees) on site. Also an insect hunt and recording by digital camera. Our pictures are not yet of the best quality but some are included here.
8th November and in high winds Mr Robinson and Mr Howard tour the Trail noticing that leaves on the field lay in peculiar patterns. Autumn is here and leaves have been all but blown off the trees. Full photo record. [[See Nature Diary]]
16 November. Freezing conditions overnight and we still go out and walk the trail with all Yr 6s looking at tree classification: DECIDUOUS & CONIFEROUS trees eg Oak and Cypress; PARK & HEDGE trees eg poplar and hawthorn. ROUGH bark and SMOOTH bark eg very old trees such as The Centenarian, and a young alder tree near to the school building. We made bark rubbings.
The variety of trees on the school site depends upon
1. Age of the woodland that was once on the site.
2. The type of soil here - we have yet to find out about this.
3. Whether the wood - and later the park was managed by man.
4. The climate. We will find out about the climate and keep weather records.
Map No. 2 December 2007
The 'Physical' Situation of Merrylands
Merrylands location - on the contours. The School is 45 metres above sea level on a 'spur' - a long narrow extension of land jutting out from hills - and facing north.
Rivers & Streams
In our class studies with Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Stellings we have noticed over the winter-time a long narrow area of damp ground, where the ground is a little lower than its surroundings, and also shows different vegetation; that is the plants that grow in this area are different. Mr. Howard used an ancient water-dowsing method to find out if the underground part of this area was damper; it was.
Our conclusion is that this could actually be one of the 'lost' streams of Merrylands shown as a dashed line flowing south from the red Merrylands School symbol on the map above. For the route of our stream see map below. We also found out that the school site had, once upon a time, six wells. Mr. Howard and Mr. Robinson set about trying to work out whereabouts they are - our latest investigation and exploration !
Map No. 3 [Above] and photographs [below] showing the course of one of the 'Lost Streams of Merrylands'
