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Learning Sessions

Our learning sessions have been updated for 2012.  Please scroll down to see what's on offer.  If you have any questions please email or call us - 01704 891244

Pond dipping

What lives in a pond?

Dip with nets in our wildlife ponds and explore the amazing animals you catch up-close and on-screen using our digital microscope. What do the animals look like and what do they do?

How do animals live in a pond?

Dip with nets and catch animals adapted to life underwater. Use our equipment to investigate their adaptations in detail and work out what the animals need and what they provide.

How does a wetland ecosystem work?

Find the plants and animals that live in our ponds, work out what they do, how they're connected and how they affect the pond.  Explore what would happen if key plants and animals were removed or introduced.  How would the ecosystem change?

Feeding birds

What do birds eat?

Meet unique and unforgettable birds from around the world - spot ones you've never seen before. Get up-close to feed them by hand and work out what they're eating.

How do birds find food?

Meet birds up-close and personally and feed them by hand. Discover what the birds are eating and observe their beaks in action. How and why are their beaks adapted for feeding?

Looking for birds

What do eggs and baby birds need?

Find out about birds before they're born. What's life like inside an egg? Meet our ducklings, goslings and cygnets. Where will you find them and what are they doing?

What are the differences between birds and me?

Meet real birds - where will you find them? Watch the birds in action, work out what they're doing and spot the things you have in common.

How do birds live in wetlands?

Find birds that live in wetlands. Observe them first-hand in their natural habitats and investigate how they're perfectly adapted. What will you see them doing and why?

Looking for wetland life

What lives in a wetland?

Hunt for animals that live in wetlands and explore their adaptations using games and role-play.  Become a new wetland animal and design and display through dressing-up your unique adaptations for wetland life. What will you be able to do and why?

How do mammals live in wetlands?

See where real beavers live and meet otters in action. Watch how they behave and spot their adaptations. How do these mammals use wetland habitats?  What do they need and how can we help them?

How do plants live in wetlands?

Find the plants that live in wetlands and investigate their life-cycles and amazing adaptations. Uncover the challenges that plants face in wetlands. How do they survive and how can we help them?

Listening for wetland life

What does a wetland sound like?

Launch a sound enquiry outdoors.  Use your ears and our equipment including microphones and hydrophones to discover and capture live sounds above and below water.  What will you hear, what's making that sound and why?

Surveying habitats

What lives in this habitat?

Become a scientist and carry out a real-life survey. Hunt for mini-beasts in woodlands and spot the similarities and differences between them. What do the invertebrates do and what does that tell you about the habitat?

Exploring conservation

How can we help migratory birds?

Spot migratory birds in their natural habitat. Watch what they're doing and explore why they've travelled thousands of miles to our centre. Uncover the challenges they face on their incredible journeys and how we can help to protect them.

Exploring sustainability

Where does my water come from and how can I look after it?

Experience real wetlands to discover where our freshwater comes from. Explore the water cycle, what we do that affects it and how we can save water by looking after wetlands. What can you do to help and who and what will benefit?

Full day programmes

How do wetlands help people?

Experience through role-play the historic connection between wetlands and people. Hunt for food and use bushcraft skills in real wetland habitats. What will you find that will help you survive and how?

How do wetlands inspire people?

Explore wetlands looking for colours, textures and patterns. Use birds, plants, water and weather as inspiration and create a piece of art using our equipment. How will you interpret wetlands and why?