Bearsted Woodland Trust’s (BWT) ever-widening programme of events for children and young people has again been evident over the summer months with a range of activities, including a nature trail for 3-11 year-olds and a creative content competition for 11-18 year-olds, proving very popular.
The Nature Detective Trail, held at BWT in July, proved even more successful than last year’s first such event. Around 130 children took part, supported by adults and older siblings, with families setting off on a lap of the site armed with a clipboard full of questions on the British Trees they would encounter on the way.
Once they returned to the starting point, the children were rewarded with nature books provided by Bearsted Parish Council. The event - organised by Julie Lawler and Erika Wentzel, supported by their husbands Peter and Jonathan – is now set to become an annual event.
Meanwhile, BWT’s inaugural content creation competition proved equally successful. The brainchild again of Management Committee member Erika Wentzel, the competition saw 11-18 year-olds invited to submit a video reel or photograph that captured ‘The Beauty of Spring’ as it bloomed at the Trust’s 28-acre site.
Entries were received from pupils at secondary schools across the area. There were two age groups in the competition, 11-14 and 15-18, both offering a first prize of £75 with the runners-up receiving £25. The standard prove high and there was an air of excitement as shortlisted entrants and their families gathered for an Awards Ceremony held at Bearsted and Thurnham Tennis Club to find out if they had won.
The success of these and other community events – including a number of school visits and a Bearsted Girl Guide snowdrop planting session - has seen BWT awarded a 16th consecutive Green Flag Community Award – and, once again, this is in the top category.
The award recognises the way the site is managed for the whole community to enjoy its diversity of space and habitat. The judge was unstinting in his praise, writing: ‘What has been achieved here is phenomenal by any standard and BWT is absolutely deserving of their Community Green Flag. Keep up the fantastic work!’