Our Blue Influencers groups have really hit their stride with their various projects and, despite some very wet and windy sessions, spirits have not been dampened! Here's a snapshot of all we've been up to over their first term.

Beech Avenue Swindon Academy Primary

Having spent some weeks planning their project and learning about issues facing local waterways, Beech Avenue’s self-named ‘Swindon Snakes’ group have now ventured out from school to explore the local brook. Certainly wilder than the school grounds, we have been exploring what lives there, discovering plants, including starwort and dog rose, trees including willows and poplars and, perhaps most excitingly of all, evidence of foxes and badgers in the form of a large sett. 

The group are now partnering with the Hreod Burna Urban Forest group to help create a dead hedge to protect the badger sett. Beyond this, we have had some very spirited litter picking sessions and have plans to campaign to reduce the amount of litter left in the area. Great work Swindon Snakes!

Alton Close Swindon Academy Primary

The Alton Close group continue to make their Forest School grounds a little wilder and more welcoming for nature. We have been digging a pond that is nearly finished and ready to be lined and filled with water. We‘ve also made log piles nearby for hibernating amphibians (and, hopefully, slow worms which we found in a summer Forest School session). To entice human visitors into the wildlife zone, we have created a willow arch into the pond area. It looks fabulous and the group are rightly proud of what they’ve done! 

Churchward School Sixth Form

Finally, the Churchward Sixth Form group have done a great job of clearing the pond at our Hagbourne Copse nature reserve, and now, responding the shorter days and inclement weather, have been on a series of ‘wellbeing walks’. Venues have included Mouldon Hill Country Park and Shaw Forest Park. Going out with binoculars, we’ve been able to spot birds such as Red Kite, Little Grebe and Gadwall, and try our hand at plant ID using the Seek app. 

Back in September, the group made some seed bombs which have now been dispatched along the cycleway at Shaw Forest. Summer may seem a long time off but, before we know it, it’ll come around again. The group are already talking about coming back to see summer flowers blooming from their bombs!