Nature Tots - Spring!

Emma Chaplin
, 23 January 2023
Nature Tots - Spring!
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Nature Tots - frog © Natasha Sharma

Nature Tots is a Forest (or Beach) School programme providing a wonderful opportunity for little ones to experience and learn from nature. Hands-on outdoor activities are themed around wildlife and the changing seasons. 

Natasha Sharma tells us some activities her Tots group will be getting up to at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this term: 

'We will be finding spring colour on our Nature Walks and seeing how spring is celebrated in different cultures. We explore and use song stories, actions and activity trails. Using patterns from nature we will create designs to welcome wildlife back to their homes and see what we can do to look after nature where we live. We'll also be taking a closer look at frogs through investigating our wetland habitats and finding out about their lifecycles."

Tamara Jewell tells us about some Tilgate Park activities that are planned:

'The coming of spring brings with it lots of opportunities to explore. In the first block of two sessions on the 16th and 23rd March, we will be crafting flowers for Mothers Day, hunting frog spawn, making mud pies, navigating rope challenges, with stories around the campfire.

The second block of five sessions runs from Thursday 20th April through until Thursday 18th May. In this block we will continue to explore the natural wonders of Tilgate Park, hunt for hungry caterpillars, make nature crowns for May Kings and Queens, and cook up some sweet treats on the campfire.

Nature Tots exploring frogspawn © Tamara Jewell
Nature Tots exploring frogspawn © Tamara Jewell

One of our activities will be looking for frogspawn - there is a wonder in watching clumps of jellied eggs metamorphosis into wriggling tadpoles with swishing tails. But then an even greater marvel occurs with the growing of powerful legs and the hauling onto dry land of little froglets with a hop and a jump. A vivid memory from childhood that still excites today.

Sharing this phenomenon with Nature Tots is a real treat and something I look forward to every year at Tilgate Park. Finding the first spawn of the year signifies a new journey with tots who’s curiosity and confidence will develop even faster than the frogspawn. I can’t wait to be leaping around the wildlife pond with a new group of Nature Tots before too long.'

Katie Parker tells us what she and her team are doing at Woods Mill:

"At Nature Tots this term we will be looking for signs of spring, spotting flowers and bumble bees and frogspawn in the pond. We will be mixing up natural paints to decorate homemade flags using chalk and charcoal and green leaves and getting to know the woodland trees with our obstacle course and blindfold trail. Of course we will be busy in the mud kitchen and learn how to use hand tools to make wooden animal models to take home."

To find out more about all the Nature Tots groups details and to book - see here

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