Summer Fun Days at Brearley Hall

This summer, Chris and Julia ran a wonderful series of fun days at Brearley Hall, open to all our children and young people in care. From making drinking stations to help our bumblebees, to taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, there was a whole host of exciting activities on offer.

We spent our days outdoors, getting our hands dirty, learning new skills and discovering the amazing wildlife right on our doorstep. Here's a glimpse of some of the things we got up to.

Thank you from the bees!

How can we help our pollinators in a heatwave? The simplest way is to create a bee drinking station.

Pour a layer of marbles into a saucer, jar lid or plant pot base, then fill it to the brim with water. Bees and other pollinators will visit daily, topping up on vital water without struggling to climb out of a pond. We made four of these and dotted them around the raised beds in the vegetable garden.

They're really easy to put together, so why not have a go at making one at home?

Creatures from the deep!

Next, we set out on an adventure to see what might be lurking in our large pond up in the woods. Armed with nets, trays and identification guides, we searched the water for signs of life, and we found plenty.

From freshwater nymphs to water boatmen, it soon turned into a friendly competition to see who could spot the most unusual creature. There's something brilliant about peering into a tray and realising just how much life a single pond can hold.

Going bananas!

Over in the forest school area, we cooked up a storm. We made delicious banana boats, stuffed with chocolate and caramel, wrapped in silver foil and melted together in the embers of a fire.

Along the way, we learnt how to create a spark using a flint and steel, then used it to build a fire from sticks gathered in the woods. Most importantly of all, we learnt how to stay safe around a fire and how to put it out completely, so it never spreads and causes a wildfire.

Fast food franchise!

We even opened our very own fast food franchise, creating butterfly feeding stations among the flower borders for an instant sugar hit.

Using paper plates, string and a selection of summer fruits, we served up a feast for our most colourful visitors. Then we tucked into the leftover mango, watermelon and pineapple ourselves. Like bees, butterflies are crucial for biodiversity, providing food and pollinating flowers for other animals. So why not turn your garden into a wildlife friendly place too?

Underwater world!

We rolled up our sleeves and dug a mini-pond in the vegetable garden, ready for all the frogs and dragonflies.

Wildlife ponds act as biodiversity hotspots, supporting a wide range of species including amphibians, insects, birds, mammals and aquatic plants. Better still, all those creatures help keep down the number of vegetable-munching pests. It's a win-win.

The Big Butterfly Count!

To round things off, we took part in the Big Butterfly Count, the largest citizen science survey in the UK, which helps assess the health of the environment and track butterfly populations across the country.

It's also the biggest butterfly count in the world, and it helps scientists monitor biodiversity and the effects of climate change, habitat loss and pollution. Happily, Brearley Hall was awash with butterflies. We spotted Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Gatekeepers and Green-veined Whites.

A summer to remember

From tiny bee drinking stations to a survey that spans the globe, our summer fun days proved that helping wildlife can be simple, hands-on and heaps of fun. A huge thank you to Chris and Julia for making it all possible, and to everyone who joined in.

Many of these activities are easy to recreate at home, so pick your favourite, grab a few bits and bobs, and give nature a helping hand this summer.