Children learn about making dens and the art of surviving in the wild
The Wimbledon Common Nature Club met at the weekend for a den-building session.
The children and their families went out on to Wimbledon Common for their Bear Grylls moment to learn about self-survival skills to help them when going out into the wild.
They collected fallen branches to make the skeleton of their den and then used ferns to insulate it and to make a soft floor covering. A bird hide was also created, so that when bird watching , they can view birds unseen.
Club leader Auriel Glanville said: “The children had great fun putting the den together, searching for branches and going into the bracken undergrowth to gather ferns.”
The next club session will be at the Information Centre, Wimbledon Common, on Sunday, October 6, when the theme will be ‘Trees’ – learning all about them and doing creative things around them. Sarah Webley, of the South London Botanical Institute will be there to lead the event from 10am until noon (newcomers 9.45am).
It is for 6-14 year-olds and is free, with donations welcome.
To contact the club, please send emails to: auriel.glanville@btinternet.
Pictured top: Leandre Karsch-Baran, six, and Charlie Marrett, eight, get to work (Picture: Auriel Glanville)