In the first Young Friends visit to Castle Meadows since before the coronavirus pandemic, 25 end of Year 1 pupils from Llanfoist Fawr Primary School enjoyed a full morning session of pond dipping and food chain games. In the latter case, with blindfolds and much running about, the youngsters learnt about how interdependent animals are for food in their different habitats. Those habitats include water, and in their pond dipping the children fished out, netted and studied 13 different species during the morning. These were:

• Pond Snails
• Water Boatmen
• Sticklebacks
• Midge Larvae
• Tadpoles
• Dragonfly Nymphs
• Pond Skaters
• Mayfly Larvae
• Toadlets
• Minnows
• Whirligig Beetles
• Bloodworms
• Leeches

On the water nearby were half a dozen ducklings, and over the water flew damselflies and dragonflies, all playing their parts in the sessions main learning theme.

Many of the pupils were particularly enthused by their finds and were methodically matching the species in their trays to those on their laminated identification charts.

The past 16 months have been extremely difficult and disruptive for teachers, teaching assistants, parents and pupils. Friends volunteers and Mon Life’s Head Countryside Warden were, therefore, truly impressed by the pupils exemplary behaviour and in the close interest they took in the activities. Let’s all hope that more normal times are returning and that we are able to welcome back more Young Friends of Castle Meadows.