Year 6 Science Ecology Trip To RSPB Ham Wall

On Thursday 30 June, our Year 6 pupils stepped into a thriving natural habitat and became ecologists, applying their science skills and techniques to study the area. The trip took place at Ham Wall RSPB; a wetlands environment teeming with wildlife- from rare species like water voles and otters to magnificent birds like bitterns and kingfishers! The pupils enjoyed stunning views across the marshes to Glastonbury Tor and followed secluded paths through the mystical landscape.

During the day the pupils worked in small teams within their class to carry out different surveys on the habitat. Pupils were challenged to find evidence to prove that there were a diverse range of species living there. Each group rotated around three different studies, one of which was the freshwater survey - pond dipping! Our children were on form with their nets; as well as finding numerous different species of invertebrates; they even had the sharp reflexes to net a fish! The next step was using keys to identify the different species collected in their sampling tray.

The grassland study was set up next to a huge lake; our teams were taught how to use quadrats to randomly focus on an area within a transect, counting the different number of species and calculating percentage cover. It was hard to focus with so many froglets hopping around!

The children enjoyed a picnic lunch next to the pond before heading out for the last survey involving a walk through the habitat, considering the impact that humans have had there, as well as spotting as much wildlife as possible- some teams even spotted grass snakes!

Mr Brown

Click here to see all the photographs on Flickr