Tree-mendous time is had by all on Wimbledon Common
The Wimbledon Common Nature Club’s latest meeting had plenty of available source material to check out as ‘Trees’ was the topic of Sunday’s latest gathering.
Sarah Webley of The South London Botanical Institute led the way, guiding youngsters taking part with useful information about the natural world.
The morning started with a talk, quiz and question and answer session on the life and importance of trees and how they can help us with climate change.
Youngsters attending were taught about the benefits threes bring as providers of oxygen, absorbers of pollution, and CO2 emissions, and how their roots help to soak up water to help prevent flooding, which is becoming more and more common here in the UK and around the world.
The children were give seed pots to grow their own trees from seeds. They then went out onto Wimbledon Common and identified trees ranging from Scots Pine, Oak, Silver Birch, Lime, Sycamore, and Aspen – and made bark rubbings.
There was also lots of creative fun making dryads – tree spirits, from Greek mythology – made from clay to put on the trees.
Sarah Webley, from The South London Botanical Institute, said: “It was a pleasure to see so many children and their families taking such an interest in trees.”
Back at the information centre the children made their bark rubbings into trees and made leafy crowns.
Auriel Glanville, Club Leader, said: “The children had a wonderful time in the woodland with Sarah, so a big thank you to her for such an inspirational morning.”
The club’s next session will be on Sunday, November 3, when “Fungi Foray” and the world of mushrooms will be the theme, led by Dr June Chatfield of The South London Botanical Institute.
It will begin at the Information Centre, Wimbledon Common, and run from10am to noon, (newcomers 9.45am to register). It is aimed at 6-14 year-olds, with admission free and donations welcome.
For more information, contact club leader Auriel Glanville on 07837 910072, or vie email at: auriel.glanville@btinternet.
Pictured top: Group in the woodland at the back overseeing proceedings, from left to right: Sarah Webley, Auriel Glanville, and club assistants Luciana Teuma, and Jennifer Long. (Picture: Richard Marrett)