Throughout this year, the Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 class ‘Eco Ambassadors’ have taken on the role of Devon Wildlife Champions and have been part of a marine action programme run by Devon Wildlife Trust.
The programme included completing a course in marine action. They also attended a sustainable fishing virtual talk and were part of the Chapter 3 assembly about water sustainability presented by Sophie from South West Water.
In June, they were invited to the Wildlife Champions Conference and the Marine Action Day.
Eco Ambassador Wildlife Champions Conference
As part of the Eco Ambassador Wildlife Champion’s Programme, Bluecoat were invited along with 7 other schools to attend the celebration conference at Devon Wildlife Trust Meeth Quarry Nature Reserve.
Bluecoat Eco-Ambassadors had a fantastic day taking part in 4 different activities around the reserve learning about wildlife and wildlife conservation. They had to use their knowledge of the adaptations of invertebrates to make their own species of invertebrate, which included pincer claws, an exo-skeleton with wings and a sting in its tail for defence. It was named a clawed dragon beetle.
Activity: The Ocean, Marine Plastics by the 2 Min Foundation
In this activity the Ambassadors learnt more about ocean plastic and the many problems it causes, how to litter pick safely (and quickly with some competitions) and they made pledges on what they can do more to help the combat the issue of plastic pollution.
Activity: Habitable Homes, Habitat creation by Devon Wildlife Trust
In this activity the Ambassadors learnt about the importance of bugs, the many species there are and how to provide homes for them in bug hotels as well as how to catch them using sweep nets! They even got to see a rare pink grasshopper!
Activity: Watery Wonders, Pond Bioblitz by Devon Wildlife Trust
The favourite activity of the day was the pond bioblitz where they used nets to sweep a ditch/waterway to find water invertebrates to identify using a branching key. The children found lots of great species including beetle larvae, newt nymphs, worms and snails.
Eco Ambassador Wildlife Marine Action Day
As part of our Eco Ambassador Wildlife Champion’s Programme, Bluecoat were invited along with 4 other schools to attend the Marine Action Day with Devon Wildlife Trust at Northam Burrows Country Park.
Eco-Ambassadors had a fantastic day taking part in 4 different activities around the beach and ranger station learning about marine conservation.
Activity: The Art and Energy Collective: The Mossy Carpet - Textile Creation
The first activity was to make a pom-pom each to contribute to the ‘mossy carpet’ with The Art and Energy foundation. The idea behind it is that it represents the carbon capture that moss traps and the importance of it as a habitat.
Activity: Recycle Devon: Sustainable Fishing and Litter
The second activity was to learn about different methods of commercial sea fishing and which is more sustainable - pole and line, bottom trawling, long lines and gill nets, as well as the amount of plastic litter that is caught up and eaten by the fish. The children found out long lines are the most sustainable and still an effective fishing method.
Activity: Devon Wildlife Trust Egg Case Survey
The next activity took place after lunch and it involved taking part in a national survey to look for egg cases from sharks and rays also known as mermaid’s purses. The children looked along the high tide line as this is where they are usually washed up empty. They learnt how to identify them and discovered a Thorn Back Ray.
Burrow Ranger: The Big Microplastics Survey
The final activity was to take part in the micro-plastic survey. Along the edge of the far side of the car park is where a lot of ocean plastic in the local area is washed up so this is where the children searched. In only 10 minutes, the team had collected a pot full of ‘nurdles’ which are small plastic beads that all items made from plastic start off as but they get spilt and end up in our environment.
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