Secondary School Resources

Things to do…

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

STEM Clubs learning activity resources: Animal Adaptations (downloadable PDF doc suitable for ages 7-9), Pages 4-9, ‘Living in the dark’:

https://www.stem.org.uk/system/files/elibrary-resources/2020/01/Animal%20Adaptations.pdf

School grounds

Environmental audit of school grounds for habitats suitable for nocturnal animals. Make a list of habitats/potential habitats and plot them on a map of the school grounds.

To observe wild animals, as well as observing them live, consider setting up wildlife cameras to record their visits and activities: https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/nature/best-wildlife-cameras/

Raspberry Pi Nature Cameras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liOH5LUVkWo

Badgers

Habitat

They dig underground burrows called ‘setts’ in woodland and hedgerows. They have a broad diet which includes insects, grubs, earthworms (they can eat several hundred each night), small mammals, amphibians, fruit such as apples, pears, plums and elderberries, and even plants bulbs.

Woodland Trust video:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/mammals/badger/

Observing them

They can be observed by (guidance by Discovery in the Dark – Wales): https://www.discoveryinthedark.wales/activities/badger-watching

https://www.discoveryinthedark.wales/cym/brecon-beacons

Badger Watching with Gareth Morgan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNJddQwW9R8

Encouraging them

Badgers may be encouraged to visit/inhabit an area by the presence of trees, hedges and ponds. They can be attracted by leaving out for them wet dog or cat food, raw peanuts or brazil nuts, fruit, root vegetables, cooked potatoes, mealworms and bowls of fresh water.

‘Peek into the amazing secret life of badgers’, wildlife artist, Robert Fuller (BBC video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpx70ARAabo

Bats

Habitat

Trees and buildings. Bats live in roosts and need different roosting conditions at different times of the year. Some bats prefer hollow trees, some like caves and some like both at different times. Many bats shelter in buildings, behind hanging tiles and boarding or in roof spaces. Bat boxes are also put to good use.

WWT information: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetland-wildlife/bats/

An Introduction to British Bats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOlRBkc-xK8

Observing them

‘30 Days Wild’ – bat spotting guidance by Aiden Matthews, Beds., Cambs. & Northants. WTs (with video and links to use of bat detectors, etc.):

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/blog/aidan-matthews/30-days-wild-day-twenty-six-top-tips-real-bat-man

Encouraging them

Bats may be encouraged to visit/inhabit an area by the presence of a pond (insects as a food source), night-scented flowers, wild areas, bat boxes, hedgerows and treelines, removal of artificial lighting.

The Wildlife Garden Project – How to help bats in your garden (Michael Walker, Nottinghamshire Bat Group): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj_wMAP45jc

Build a bat box (RSPB): https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/nature-on-your-doorstep/garden-activities/buildabatbox/

Channel M ‘How to Make a Bat Box’ (Salford Ranger team): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLtjLZvrrU8

Foxes

Habitat

They dig underground lairs known as ‘earths’ or ‘dens’ in woodland and hedges. They are scavengers and eat almost anything they can find, including insects, earthworms, fruit, berries, birds, small mammals, carrion and scraps left by humans.

The Red Fox – The British Mammal Guide (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4ToHu1MM9E

Observing them

Wildlife Online guidance: https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/red-fox-senses

‘Red Fox Visits Every Night’ (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAZaUwje3kE

Encouraging them

Foxes may be encouraged to visit/inhabit an area by wild areas of gardens with plenty of vegetation, wooden sheds with spaces to hide under and ponds. They can be attracted by food supplies that replicate their natural diet, which primarily means leaving out for them raw meat and cooked meat, such as tinned dog food, and treats such as peanuts, fruit and cheese, and a bowl of fresh water.

https://blog.fantasticgardeners.co.uk/foxes-in-garden/

Hedgehogs

Habitat

Efficient winter nests are essential for hedgehogs to survive hibernation. So, in autumn, they collect leaves, grass, straw, reeds, etc., and use these materials to build nests under hedgerows, logs or piles of brushwood.

Observing them

Urban Hedgehogs – a night-time garden wildlife drama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4EJLPDmxz4

Encouraging them

Hedgehogs may be encouraged to visit/inhabit an area by provision of ‘hog-homes’: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes/

Looking after wildlife- making a hedgehog house: video by David Domoney (Horticulturist): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSJjDdW05io

Also the presence of hedges, logs, piles of brushwood and natural nest-building materials. And the provision of bowls of dog or cat food (tinned or crushed biscuits) and fresh water.

Hedgehog Mating Rituals/Life of Mammals/BBC Earth (David Attenborough): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btY-3ED__Vo

Moths

Habitat

Their habitats vary according to their species, but generally comprise flowering plants, night-scented plants, trees and long grass. They are generally attracted to flowers in the same way as butterflies to feed on nectar, and some of their favourite flowers are buddleia, red valerian, heather, sallow and ivy. But as well as eating different plants the caterpillars eat different parts of plants. A tree may have caterpillars feeding on its leaves, another on its flowers, yet another on its fruit and a different set living underground and eating its roots.

Observing them

Butterfly Conservation – Fabulous Moths And How To Find Them: https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/fabulous-moths-and-how-to-find-them

National Moth Week: https://nationalmothweek.org/finding-moths-2/

YouTube ‘How to catch moths’ (Eco Sapien): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA6qrGQE2E8

Encouraging them

Moths may be encouraged to visit/inhabit and area by less hard landscaping and the planting of more flowering plants, including those with night-scented flowers, such as honeysuckle, common jasmine, evening primrose, sweet rocket and night-scented stock, and leaving grass uncut. Sugaring plants with a cola, brown sugar and treacle mix will also attract moths.

https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/gardening/gardening-for-moths

Owls

Habitat(s)

Barn owl: Trees and old buildings with cavities in or near the roof.

An Introduction to the Barn Owl (video by David Ramsden (Head of Conservation, the Barn Owl Trust): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohqEquNnzfU

Tawny owl: Trees and old buildings with small cavities in or near the roof.

Discover Wildlife (BBC): https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-tawny-owls/

Observing them

Barn Owl videos: https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/owl-facts-for-kids/owl-videos/

Escape into the Wild – Barn Owl calling (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGjoknxwbtw

Wild Tawny Owls at Night (Ian McGuire video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TePp82POVp0

Encouraging them

Owls are encouraged to visit/inhabit an area by provision of nest boxes in, or on the outside of, old buildings or on trees. Rough grassland nearby for owls to hunt small mammals.

Making barn owl nest boxes (RSPB guidance): https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/nestboxes-for-owls-and-kestrels/barn-owl-nest-boxes/

How to Choose the Best Barn Owl Nest Box Design: YouTube video by David Ramsden (Head of Conservation, the Barn Owl Trust): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr8qLyAFl_k

Making tawny owl nest boxes RSPB guidance): https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/nestboxes-for-owls-and-kestrels/tawny-owl-boxes/

Project nest boxes new Tawny Owl nest box (Richard Lloyd Evans): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh4HBpGOl_8

Owl pellets

In ornithology a pellet is a cluster of undigested food that a bird has regurgitated, and the contents of the pellet depend on the bird’s diet. A pellet can be studied to find out what a bird has eaten and it can include indigestible plant matter and body parts of creatures the bird has eaten, such as feathers, bills, claws, exoskeletons of insects, fur, bones and teeth.

‘What are owl pellets?’ (Barn Owl Trust): https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/owl-facts-for-kids/owl-pellets/

Owl Pellets (RSPB): http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/Images/Owlpellets_tcm9-133500.pdf

Why not obtain owl pellets and study them for yourself? (pellets can be purchased online from a variety of websites).

School energy use in hours of darkness

Undertake a night-time energy use audit of the school and suggest ways in which energy efficiency could be improved.

Sustainable Learning –‘Energy Use Calculator’: https://www.sustainablelearning.com/resource/energy-use-calculator

‘Schools – Learning to improve energy efficiency’ (Carbon Trust): https://czone.eastsussex.gov.uk/media/1952/ctv019-schools-overview.pdf

Constellations with connections to nature visible in the northern hemisphere in the autumn sky

Look for these constellations in the night sky, see if you can visualise the animals they are supposed to represent and find out 3 useful pieces of information about each of the creatures you’ve identified.

Cygnus – Latin-Greek for ‘swan’.

Delphinus – Latin for ‘dolphin’.

Ursa Major – Latin for ‘Greater She-bear’.

Ursa Minor – Latin for ‘little bear’.

Links to experts in dark skies

Dark Sky Wales/ Awyr Dywyll Cymru: https://darkskywalestrainingservices.co.uk/

Dark Sky Discovery: https://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/

Light pollution map: https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=6.58&lat=51.6812&lon=-0.8681&layers=B0FFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF

Royal Astronomical Society: https://ras.ac.uk/

Links to organisations