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Description

This evening was used for a microforest in Eastleigh, Hampshire but can be used for any forest if there are enough varieties of trees or wide spaces.

The aim is to collect data on insect populations (pollinators like bees and ground dwellers like beetles) within a timeframe and specific area to give estimates as to how well species are doing within natural habitats. This is compensated by playing three games created by Baden-Powell himself (Plant Race, Will o the Wisp, and Showing the Light).

Best when evenings are fully dark for games to work.

Resources

Pens
Identification guides if sourcable (we used guides from Earthwatch Tinyforest)
Lantern/torch
Torches
Warm things to wear!

Instructions

Make sure they first note which species they see in preparation for Plant race game at end, 10 mins. Then make them guess about how many trees there are estimated in UK, 1 min.

Move onto pollinator guide (they should choose just one type of flower to focus on in the forest and choose a half meter square to do this in) then ground dweller guide 10 mins each, take it in pairs or threes. Then Plant race BP game, 15-20 mins (maybe tell them who the game from).

Plant race game trees to do if feasible:
Gorse
Hawthorn
Silver birch (pinkish-white bark)
Sessile oak (long stalk leaf, no stalk acorn (bunch))
English oak (short stalk leaf, long stalk single acorn)
Holly
Downy birch (red-brown bark)
Hazel
Rowan
Crab apple (can eat but very sharp, best as jelly)


Games- BP’s night games, Showing the Light and Will o the Wisp, should take an hour all told, 30 mins each.

Showing the Light- Scout gets the lantern and 2 mins to find a place not too far away in the area (others are turned away not to see them). Leader then blows whistle and Scout shows light for five seconds, first to reach them gets the lantern next. Before changeover, they must estimate how far away the Scout with the lantern was in metres (best to have one leader monitoring behaviour and one leader monitoring distances and game rulings).

Will o the Wisp- Here 2 Scouts share the lantern and have 2 mins to disband and find places to run to (others turned away not to see where they’re running to for fairness). Leader then blows whistle and the one with the lantern shows the light for at least 2 seconds (preferably no more than five). They must then show their light once a minute (or as best as they can get to that) and they may also pass the lantern to one another during the game.

Game ends when either one is captured.

Tactic: one Scout can try and mingle with the rest if he gets close enough and act like of the group (difficult but possible).




Get them at the end to spread the word to others about forests and improving biodiversity for Requirement 3!

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Badge Links

• Environmental Conservation - Conservation