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A Walk on The Wild Side for Junior Youth Group

Janet Keeble from the Somerset Wildlife Trust kindly gave up her Friday evening to help the members of Junior Youth Group to provide winter shelter for wildlife.

In preparation for a gardening project starting next spring, Janet helped us understand the need to help wildlife in our garden during the colder months.  She stressed the need to provide food and shelter for birds and insects, and helped us understand that not all creepy crawlies are baddies!

In very wet weather hibernating insects can drown if at ground level.  We are giving them a helping hand with the 'hotels' Janet helped us build.  Here's how. 

Using hollowed out stems, such as bamboo, gather lots and lots of similar lengthed 'tubes' and tie them together with a long piece of string.  Make sure they are tied tightly so that the hotel doesn't collapse.  Use the ends of the string to tie the 'hotels' to the underneath of a branch.  You should soon be welcoming ladybirds, lacewings and other friendly and helpful insects in to your garden.

We also used small foil tins and lard to make hanging bird feeders.  The feeder was filled with peanuts and seeds that, along with the lard, provide fat and energy so necessary to birds, especially when the weather is cold and natural foods are in shorter supply.

Many of the group took home their efforts, whilst some have chosen to hang them at the YMCA.  Let's hope they attract plenty of wildlife and that they help to provide the shelter and food our wild animals need.

If you'd like more information about junior or senior youth groups, contact Claire on 01823 277043 or email ymcayouthtaunton@yahoo.co.uk

Both groups are part of a joint initiative by the YMCA and Somerset County Council Children and Young People's Directorate.

View the wildlife tasks they carried out

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Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 4

At 09:53 on 31st October 2008, kerris m commented:

I will also be making a lard and nut feeder for the wildlife this winter now, that's a great idea. I believe it's extremely important to look after our wildlife and woodlands! Getting younger people to really value it and be proactive in caring for it is essential - the evening organised above makes it interactive and fun!
Brilliant! Everyone involved should give themselves a big pat on the back!

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