(Photograph: David Stevens)
Box Moor Birds Junior Wildlife Group was launched at an open day on 20th April 2002 at The Old Barn, Westbrook Hay. This followed a mailing to all existing Wildlife Explorer members, an article in the Boxmoor Trust newsletter and a half-page article in the local newspaper.
The club is for 7 to 12 year-olds and is managed by Boxmoor Trust together with members of the RSPB Hemel Hempstead Local Group. It is operated as a Wildlife Explorers Group under RSPB rules and guidelines.
At the first meeting the children watched Phil Pennington, the Boxmoor Trust Estate Manager and Group Leader of Box Moor Birds, demonstrate the skills of sheep shearing. He explained the importance of keeping sheep to graze the fields, the importance of not touching the sheep and how the wool is processed. The children then walked round the Westbrook Hay estate with the leaders explaining about the natural diversity.
At the second meeting in June, Stuart Downhill, of the BTO, had set up a mist-nest to demonstrate and explain bird ringing. The children were fascinated by the two young great spotted woodpeckers, blackbird, robin and blue tit which were caught in the nets and ringed and which they were able to examine close up. Stuart explained that by mist netting we could monitor the populations of birds and also track their migration.
The children were given single-use cameras and told to take photographs of anything connected with nature, with the winning photographs perhaps being used for the next year’s Boxmoor Trust calendar. As a result, two children were successful in having their photographs used for the 2003 calendar.
In July, a moth trap had been set up overnight so that the children could see the vast array of moths. This was followed by a walk around the estate looking for butterflies, with Dave Kirk, one of the leaders, telling the children about the butterflies they found.
In subsequent months, a scavenger hunt was arranged, the Group Leader led a farm walk, looking at the belted Galloway calves and sheep, the children were told about badgers, birdfeeders were constructed from pre-cut logs and bird boxes were placed around the estate.
To celebrate Box Moor Birds’ first birthday, the Group enjoyed a trip to College Lake, a BBOWT reserve in Bulbourne near Tring.
Box Moor Birds currently has about 50 members, with an average attendance of about 30 children each month. The aim of the Group is to motivate and educate young people to enjoy wildlife and the countryside so that they understand the importance of preserving the natural environment for future generations.
If you think that your child would enjoy and benefit from our activities please contact Phil Pennington or Alison Shipley on 01442 253300 or email : admin@boxmoortrust,co,uk. There is a small charge of 50p per family per session.