Children Say
Every child should learn how to clean up after themselves to save our shared planet.
What do you say, children?
Dear Parents, Teachers and Children
I know children have lots to think and say about our natural environments and I want to offer them the opportunity, on this website, to show how they can make a difference and are making a difference.
So, Children . . . . send one picture of a small habitat or something you have done to clean up after yourself. You can write up to 50 words as a caption to your picture.
- Habitats picture – either one you have created or noticed which you know will help give living creatures some shelter or a home.
- Cleaning Up picture – your caption must describe what you did to make it cleaner.
And Parents and Teachers….. please send the one picture, with a written caption of up to 40 words which describes it, to me, Field Maple – at [email protected]
To protect children, I am asking them to give themselves a website name – a unique name they want and choose (one word please), which always will be used when contributing to this site. Also, the age of the child too.
This website is not about ‘having followers.’ It is not about trying to be an important person or influencing anyone else. This website humbly asks for us all to give thought and protection to nature. Its mission is about as big as you can get and that is why children should ‘Have their Say’.
As time goes by, I am hoping for children to become regular contributors so that we can see the difference they can make. All of you will become ambassadors for this site and its mission.
Field Maple
PS Habitats are everywhere! Look at the crevices in pavements! Go to the corners of a local piece of open ground and find them. Search in a park for how creatures live in it. If you have an outside area where you live, look again at how you might be able to provide, a small habitat for creatures. Don’t forget to look up as well as down!!
Whatta Lotta Flowers
On the way home we saw these lovely blue flowers and you’ve told me before that they are Forget-me-nots. I just like the way they are.
XamYes Xam, they are perfectly wonderful, growing all on their own around the old telephone pole on the pavement and someone’s drive and gate. It is a perfect example of how nature finds its own opportunities to grow and good for the householder who has let them do so.
Field Maple
What on Earth?
Actually Elsa, this dandelion is growing in a crack in the tarmac – was it a road or pavement? It was probably caused by a tree root underneath it. But you are right to say it is strong because what it will do now is undermine the tarmac with its growing roots and it will make that crack get bigger and bigger! But just as interesting are two other living plants. See the moss in the cracks around the dandelion? It too will eventually make cracks get bigger. Look carefully again at the photo Elsa because there is another plant growing beside the dandelion. It is looking very healthy and green – I’m not sure yet what it is and I will take a look at my wild flower plants book to see if I can identify it – or you could? One more observation for you Elsa. Are the small white/grey patches on the tarmac old bits of chewing gum, or are they lichen? Lots to do and see when you next visit that crack in the tarmac!!
Field Maple
Sweet Peas Ahoy There!
I’ve been watering my sweet peas.
West GateIt certainly looks like it Twiggy and they may just keep growing. They are little ones just hanging in there. Don't mistake the old, dead pea stick which you put in to have something for the sweet peas to grow up with your tree behind it which looks good, well done.
Field Maple
Bold Daffodils
Oh, Forest Lodge all those 60 daffodils that each of you planted in November are flowering now at Easter and you are all on your holidays! I took the photo through the wire fence so that you can see how beautiful they are. They are strong and tall. Perhaps they will last until the summer term? I do hope so!
18th April 2023
Children – you are back at school and you have seen the photo. Your teacher has told me that you have looked at the daffodils in wonder and here are some of your reactions:
“The daffodils are yellow!”
“and beautiful!”
“Their stems are green”
“They are shiny”
“They growed!” (grew)
“Wow!”
“It’s New Parks”
“We will see them next forest fun”
Well done also to keep all your logs for studying them as they become rotten and invite insects to use them.
Field Maple
What is in that pond?
We went pond-dipping today and I found a water snail and put it on my hand to look at it.
LadybirdHiya Ladybird, always excellent to see how a snail looks, even when they live in water and I expect it was well hidden in its shell. Also, very important to put living creatures back where you found them, so well done!
Field Maple
Slippy, sloppy, slappy!
The tadpoles were very slithery and slimy. They have very long tails!
SpiderboyYes Spiderboy, if you return to the pond you will see how the young frog grows into its tadpole tail! I wonder how long that will take to happen? Good observations Spiderboy!
Field Maple
Busy Ants
During the summer I saw lots of ants on this green twig in the backyard.
They were doing something with the greenflies. Is this a habitat for ants?
Hello Felix, thanks for sending your picture. The twig is being used by the greenflies to suck its sap. The ants are interested in them because they may be 'milking' them for food or they may take them to their nest which you might find under the plant somewhere?? They are all sharing the same habitat.
Field Maple
My Aunty was visiting and said, ‘Let’s take a picture?’
FelixWell done Aunty for sending it to me with Felix’s observations and questions.
Field Maple
Bug Hotel
Me and my Dad drilled lots of big holes into a log which we called the ‘Bug Hotel’. I hope this is a good habitat for insects.
AmberDear Amber. What a great insect hotel, very welcoming and looking very cosy. You will enjoy seeing what happens as time goes by and what sort of residents may come to stay. Super.
Field Maple
