Somerset Schools and Community Project Report...Resources, Training and School Visits Throughout the project regular ‘training events‘ were held for volunteers going into schools

Somerset Schools

and Community Project 2007-2010

End of Project Report

Summary

The Somerset Schools & Community Project originated as a follow on project from the

previous HLF funded Avalon Marshes Field Teaching Project. The project has been

composed of two parts – Bird Friendly Schools (BFS), which aimed to take the interest

shown by schools in the natural environment into the schools themselves and Community

Events to enthuse and engage local people about the natural and man-made heritage of the

Avalon Marshes. Volunteers were recruited across Somerset (including NE Somerset) and

contact was made with more than 30% of primary schools in the area. All participating

schools were linked with a local volunteer and received 3 visits from this volunteer during the

year. Generally volunteers worked with a single class, but this varied with the most

enthusiastic volunteers working with many classes in a single school.

Volunteers Volunteers were recruited for the project from many different sources. After an initial ‘quiet

period’ when few enquiries occurred, there has been a constant stream of people wanting to

be involved. Press releases (local Press & RSPB Birds magazine), posters on Reserves

(NE’s Shapwick Heath & RSPB’s Ham Wall & West Sedgemoor) and posters up at events

gave us a strong team of volunteers to support our events. Direct Mailing of Somerset

RSPB members was successful in recruiting the volunteers who wanted to visit schools.

Volunteers have come from many different backgrounds. Many were former teachers or had

worked in schools. The expertise and support these individuals were able to give the rest of

the team helped contribute to the overall success of the project. Several volunteers were at

the start of their career and they used the project as a way of gaining experience in public

engagement roles. By the end of the project several of these volunteers had gained

employment in the environment world - Anna Graham started as a BFS volunteer and admin

assistant for the project and took over the project management for the final 5 months of the

project. Alexia Hollinshead, who was also a BFS volunteer and admin assistant, gained

employment from the RSPB at Arne Reserve and has since moved on to Public Affairs

Officer (Visitors on Reserves) at RSPB’s regional office in Exeter. BFS volunteer Craig

Burrows has since been working for the Somerset Wildlife Trust and Jo Collett has secured

a contract with the Environment Agency.

Other volunteers have become involved in other voluntary roles with both RSPB & Natural

England. These have included practical conservation tasks (Suzie Fowler joined the

Shapwick Heath Green Team), admin roles (Rebecca Wilcox helped with complex IT tasks),

building and renovating the Avalon Marshes Lifelong Learning Centre (Neville Henderson &

Stewart Gould) and species’ monitoring (Alison Mackenzie on Shapwick Heath). The

expertise of the volunteer group were greatly enhanced by several professionals involved in

the environmental world who were keen to develop links with Natural England & RSPB’s

community work in Somerset – volunteers included Lucy Vincent, a director of Wildfowl &

Wetlands Trust and Stephen Moss producer and author for BBC Natural History Unit.

By the end of the project a total of 55 volunteers had been recruited for working in schools

and a further 92 individuals had participated in community project events. The total number

of volunteer hours amounted to an incredible 6396.5 and the project could not have

achieved this level of success without them.

Resources, Training and School Visits

Throughout the project regular ‘training events‘ were held

for volunteers going into schools. These proved very

popular and many volunteers used them as a networking

opportunity to link with other volunteers in their areas. The

training enabled a consistent approach to be adopted by

all volunteers going into schools. Volunteers were

equipped with full sets of BFS resources (see right) that

had been previously ‘tried and tested’ with primary aged

pupils – thus ensuring all visits were of a high quality.

The wide range of different events that occurred during the

project period meant that no specific training could be

given to this group of volunteers. Generally new

volunteers were linked with experienced ones when

helping for the first time.

Statistics The initial target for the project of 91 schools was achieved early in the second year. By the

third year more than 30% of schools in Somerset had links with the project and most schools

were involved for the entire three year period.

Number of Schools involved – 122

Number of Bird Friendly School Volunteers – 55

Number of School Visits by Volunteers - 486

Number of Children engaged in Schools (many more at

Events) – 5197

Total Volunteer Hours in Bird Friendly Schools – 3209

A staggering total of 41 large events (not including guided walks) have taken place over the

three year period, which has enabled the vital engagement of thousands of children and their

families in the area.

Number of Volunteers involved in Events - 92

Total Volunteer Hours at Events – 3187.5

Community Events Wild Days Out (4 per year) - families bring their children along for a free day of wildlife

themed games and activities based at the Avalon Marshes Centre e.g. Pond Dipping,

Nature-themed Art and Trailer Rides onto Shapwick Heath NNR.

Avalon 24 (annual) – 24 hours of guided walks across 5 nature reserves of the Avalon

Marshes. Aimed at everyone from 1 to 101 encouraging them to get out and experience the

rich natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon Marshes. Joint venture between RSPB,

Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT)

and The Hawk and Owl Trust.

Avalon Marshes Open Day (annual) - families

bring their children along for a free day of wildlife

themed activities based at the Avalon Marshes

Centre e.g. Puppet Shows, Story-telling and

Willow Weaving. Joint venture between RSPB,

Natural England, Somerset Wildlife Trust and The

Hawk and Owl Trust. The Environment Agency

also attended.

School Days (2-4 per year) - 250 children in 2nd year of project and 450 in 3rd year so far.

Local schools are invited to attend a day of nature themed workshops based at the Avalon

Marshes Centre and on Shapwick Heath NNR.

The project and Avalon Marshes Reserves have also been promoted at external events such

as a Green Fair in the local town of Glastonbury.

Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group A wildlife group has been set up for RSPB Wildlife Explorer and Wildlife

Trust Watch Members in the area (youth membership for both

organisations), although non-members are also welcome. The Group is

jointly run by RSPB, Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust and aims

to engage and enthuse youngsters and their families about their local

environment, in particular the natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon

Marshes. It is being lead by three representatives, one from each

organisation and seven assistant leaders, who will run a mixture of indoor

and outdoor activities throughout the year. Activities will be based partly at

our Lifelong Learning Centre at the Avalon Marshes Centre and partly out

on our National Nature Reserves of Ham Wall (RSPB), Shapwick Heath

(NE) and Westhay Moor (SWT). The first meet in June 2010 was very

successful with 45 people attending. The Group will continue to run

following the end of the project.

Local Media Links

The events and Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group have benefitted greatly from the excellent

and loyal media coverage of Glastonbury FM, which

promotion.

RSPB Birds Magazine advertised the

Volunteer Roles.

Mendip Times, Central Somerset Gazette,

played a part in advertising Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.

A monthly activity and competition called ‘Bird

Polden Post (read by 100s of villagers across the Polden Hills and The Bridge Magazine

(read by the residents of Burrowbridge village).

engage and inform them of birds

to be run by a volunteer following the end of the p

Response from Volunteers The response from BFS volunteers has been very

enjoyed their visits and benefitted greatly from the training

the volunteers have also made

the children, teachers and in some cases entire

Frances Snelling (BFS Volunteer)

“They certainly took the birdwatch to heart

childrens’ certificates home to write in their names and there was a

'presentation' during school assembly next morning

occasion!”

“I made my last visit to Wookey School yesterday, which

keen school as a whole, not just 'my class' and have a wildlife area with pond etc which is

being extended”.

The

children continuing to count and watch the birds in t

playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local

throughout the year. S

RSPB Wildlife Explorers. T

experience:

Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary School)

“Thanks for coming into our school and working with the children they really enjoyed learning about all the different birds, I did too!”


of Glastonbury FM, which will continue to be involved in future

Magazine advertised the project including the Bird Friendly School and Event

, Central Somerset Gazette, Fosse Way Magazine and The Word

Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.

A monthly activity and competition called ‘Bird Brain’ has been started in local press


(read by the residents of Burrowbridge village). This is aimed at young families in order to

engage and inform them of birds they are likely to see in their local area. This will continue

following the end of the project.

Response from Volunteers, Schools and Event Participants

olunteers has been very positive; they have

and benefitted greatly from the training. Many of

made a lasting and very positive impact on

and in some cases entire schools:

Frances Snelling (BFS Volunteer) –

inly took the birdwatch to heart - Hilary took all the

certificates home to write in their names and there was a

'presentation' during school assembly next morning - so quite an

I made my last visit to Wookey School yesterday, which went very well - they are a very


The response from schools has also been very positive with

children continuing to count and watch the birds in t

playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local

throughout the year. Some have even been inspired to

RSPB Wildlife Explorers. Teachers have also got a lot out of the

experience:

Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary School) –



will continue to be involved in future

Bird Friendly School and Event

The Word have all

Avalon 24 and the Avalon Marshes Open Day.

Brain’ has been started in local press: The


This is aimed at young families in order to

they are likely to see in their local area. This will continue

Participants

they are a very


schools has also been very positive with

children continuing to count and watch the birds in their

playgrounds (and indeed their gardens and local areas)

been inspired to become

have also got a lot out of the

Danielle Teal (Year 5/6 Teacher at Burrowbridge Primary


As a result of successful visits, some of the teachers are keen for

volunteers to continue their links with the schools and many of the

volunteers will do so in conjunction with the RSPB’s Great Crane

Project. This will be vital in maintaining these

positive links with the community.

Event volunteers (some of which are also BFS

volunteers) and participants continue to enjoy

the real sense of community spirit, as well as

the fun and educational activities, which make

our events so successful. We are lucky

enough to have volunteers who are able to

really engage and inspire the public with their knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural

world. Some families return again and again to the events, they just cannot seem to get

enough!

Partnership Links Throughout the project the excellent link between RSPB & Natural

England on the Somerset Levels has been maintained & developed.

With time, other organisations have also linked into many of the events

that have been arranged. In particular The Hawk & Owl Trust have

joined in with many ‘Wild Days Out’ and their support for the two Avalon

24’s has been tremendous. The Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset

County Council have also participated with events and their input has

increased the range of activities offered to the public tremendously.

Two volunteer BBQ’s were arranged over the project period with many Somerset Schools &

Community Project volunteers attending and sharing experiences & expertise.

Staffing The first two and a half years of the project were managed by Simon Beard, whose

experience in education and existing contacts with local schools were invaluable to the

success of the project. Simon’s enthusiasm and dedication were second to none. Following

a move to work for Natural England as a community Outreach Advisor at the same site, the

end of the project was managed by Anna Graham. Anna Graham was and continued to be

a BFS volunteer for the remainder of the project and had also helped Simon Beard with

community events and project administration prior to taking over as manager. Due to the

strong partnership link between the organisations, Simon Beard and Anna Graham have

worked together on school visits and community events.

Thank You Event for Volunteers and Staff

In recognition of the overwhelming contribution and dedication of volunteers and staff

members to the project, an End of Project Celebration and Thank You Event was organised.

This was held three weeks prior to the end of the project and was a great success with guest

speakers Stephen Moss (BBC Natural History Unit) and Chris Sperring (nationally renowned

naturalist from The Hawk and Owl Trust). Everyone really appreciated the gesture.

Legacy and the Future

• Thousands of children and their families have been engaged and inspired in schools

and at community events through overwhelming commitment of volunteers and staff.

• Thanks to help from volunteers, there are now two permanent classroom facilities

(Lifelong Learning Centre) at the Avalon Marshes Centre site, which will continue to

be used for school and family events, training courses and staff meetings.

• Resources left over from the BFS visits, those created for games and activities and

those purchased over the course of the project, will continue to be used at

community events.

• A number of the BFS volunteers are continuing their links with their schools through

the RSPB’s Great Crane Project and/or are volunteering as Assistant Leaders for the

Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group.

• All community events will continue to be run by Natural England and neighbouring

conservation partners and the Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group will continue to inspire

families with the natural and man-made heritage of the Avalon Marshes.

Thanks also go to: RSPB staff Tony Richardson (Regional Director), Peter Exley (Public Affairs Manager), Tony

Whitehead (Public Affairs Officer), June Young (Volunteering Department) and Trish Harper

(Office Administrator, Somerset Reserves), Steve Hughes (Site Manager, Ham Wall), Ray

Summers (Warden, Ham Wall) and Stephen Couch (Assistant Warden, Ham Wall) for their

help, support and guidance throughout the project.

Natural England staff Phil Holms (Senior Reserves Manager, Somerset), Simon Clarke

(Reserve Manager, Shapwick Heath NNR) and Jon Macaulay (Reserve Warden, Shapwick

Heath NNR) for their enormous support and contribution, especially with regards to

equipment and event preparation.

Somerset Wildlife Trust staff Mark Blake (Brue Valley Reserves Officer), Alys Laver (Brue

Valley Reserves Assistant) and Toria Hare (Community Volunteering Facilitator) for help with

events and Jessy Emery for her help and support with the Avalon Marshes Wildlife Group

Annie and Neville Henderson for their support at the Avalon Marshes Centre; The Hawk and

Owl Trust staff, in particular Chris Sperring, and volunteers for their help with events,

especially Avalon 24; Eddie Wills, former Warden of Peat Moors Centre and Bob Croft and

Richard Brunning of Somerset County Council for their contribution towards events.

The Heritage Lottery Fund, without whose financial contribution, the Somerset Schools and

Community Project would not have been possible.

Documents

Somerset Schools and Community Project Report...Resources, Training and School Visits Throughout the project regular ‘training events‘ were held for volunteers going into schools