At Wonderseekers, we’re on an exciting journey to place children at the heart of the conversations around important scientific topics, like the climate emergency. We want to support them so they feel equipped to make a positive impact on our planet. As part of our learning journey our Young Design Panel are collaborating with scientists, artists and local experts to understand a whole range of scientific topics. Discover what happened when they visited Newhouse Farm, Alresford to learn about farming and food production.
Why do we use certain pesticides? How are worms useful for farming? How do different animals experience the world? These were just some of the things the Young Design Panel discovered during their farm adventure. As well as understanding the science of farming, it was a fantastic opportunity to explore the outdoors through imagination and play. The children came face-to-face with pigs, sheep, goats, and crickets. Observing them in their natural habitats was a great way to encourage the children to consider how animals interact with the world differently.
One of the highlights of the day was exploring the secrets of soil. The children got their hands dirty, breaking apart soil to see how many creatures they could find. This messy yet fun activity led to the surprising discovery that the more worms they found, the healthier that piece of soil was. We fact checked this and it’s true! As Soil Association explain: “Worms don’t like living in very poor-quality soil as they need moist soils that contain enough organic matter for them to feed on.” Check out the full article to learn more about wonderful worms.
The day ended on a high with a ride on a tractor! While on their journey around the fields, the children were keen to explain the importance of trees, understanding that they provide oxygen which animals and humans need to live. They even spotted deer, rabbits, butterflies, and grouse along the way!
Niki Dalton, one of our Project Officers said: “I’m so pleased I could join the Young Design Panel on this farm trip adventure. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the children in an a more relaxed environment where we could organically find out about the animals and learn what it means to look after them, helping us to make conscious choices in our everyday lives.”
This farm visit is part of our new child-led project that combines science and the arts to help connect children with nature. Our Charity is working collaboratively with scientists, artists, and local children to explore new ways of engaging children in environmental science. Find out more about this exciting project.
