You will find biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and in wild woods, roadsides, wetlands, rain forests, snowfields and the seashore. At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we have a passion for this diversity. We believe that all life depends on plants. Plants give us oxygen to breathe, food to eat, medicines, fuel, transport and shelter.
Kew is part of a global research network seeking a better future for our world through understanding and conservation of plant specimens, seeds and DNA samples and has a collection of 30,000 different types of living plants. We have 160 scientists and 120 gardeners plus an education department providing tours and activities.
One of the school programmes we offer is 'Our Local Biodiversity'. You can adapt the activities below for your club.
Meet A Tree
For even numbers of children
Age group: Seven and up
This activity requires a very simple prop - one blindfold per pair of children.
Start by talking about the different types of trees and their characteristics, then split the group into pairs. One partner should don the blindfold. The second is then responsible for guiding them to a tree of their choosing, talking to them all the time, looking out for trip hazards and getting the blindfolded child to put out their hands prior to arriving at the tree to avoid collision. The child must explore as many characteristics of the tree as possible using touch, smell and sound. The blindfolded partner is then led back to the starting point on as convoluted a journey as one likes - within reason - and spun round a couple of times for disorientation purposes.
When the blindfold is removed, the child must try to relocate their tree.
Try to discourage them from pointing and saying, 'Is it that one?' and encourage them to go and investigate likely tree candidates.
Note: some children may not like to be blindfolded.
Making soil
For any number of children
Age group: Seven and up
You need a number of bags made from some form of durable material, for example, canvas. Split the group into sub groups of two to four, and give each a bag. Ask the children to name individual ingredients of soil - I would suggest using simply stones, twigs, dead leaves and water - and then ask them to go and find them in the surrounding area. When they return, move on to the next ingredient. You should have the water in a bottle to add once all the other ingredients have been harvested. Then ask each group member to jump up and down on the bag on the ground simulating erosion.
Ask, 'Have you made soil?' The answer is 'no'. This is because there are some ingredients missing, such as dead animals and worms to mix up the constituents, and because it takes time to break down materials to make soil. Explain how soil supports life for so many different plants. Finish by emptying the bags randomly around the area you are in.
Leaves and mini-beasts
For any number of children
Age group: Seven and up
Using some square frames or even hula-hoops, define a specific area of ground and look for all the different plants in the small area that are not grass. You will need to put together a laminated sheet of a variety of silhouetted plant leaves or a plant book for the children to use to match their leaves for identity. The children can also do a mini-beast hunt and decide how the creepy crawlies might contribute to this microcosm.
Prickly tickly finds
For any number of children
Age group: Seven and up
You will need egg boxes for half a dozen eggs, together with white cards.
The children should work in pairs collecting items described on their cards, for example: 'Find...a seed, a petal, a leaf, something prickly, something tickly, your favourite thing'. Once the items have been gathered, the children can share their findings, separating items into groups.
MORE INFORMATION
If you are interested in booking any of the educational activities or tours at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, see the website http://www.kew.org.uk
'Go Wild', this year's summer festival at Kew is from 24 May - 28 September and focuses on British biodiversity.
