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EFFC loves minibeasts!

With the United Nations declaring 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity this article looks at how Epping Forest Field Centre provides formal and informal learning about invertebrates.

“Insects are the most diverse and pervasive group of animals: there are more types of insects than of all other animals combined. They are found in virtually all terrestrial environments, from deserts to rainforest and from tundra to savannah, and are also abundant in freshwater, from seasonal brooks to major rivers and from stagnant puddles to huge lakes. Most importantly, insects are common in environments dominated by man’s activities, whether in rural or urban areas”. Royal Entomological Society.

Epping Forest Field Centre recognises how important invertebrates are to the natural world and wants to promote this understanding to young people. It has designed a wide range of courses from primary to A-Level focusing on the study of invertebrates.

At Key Stage 1: Minibeasts in Epping Forest – this allows students to discover the diversity of animals which live in ponds as well as a variety of different terrestrial habitats and Plants and Animals (links to QCA Science Unit 2B: ‘Plants and Animals in the local environment’).

At Key Stage 2: Habitats and Lifecycles – students learn the concept of habitats, how they provide organisms found there with conditions for life. Pupils investigate feeding relationships, how animals are suited to their habitat, the interrelationships between plants and animals and consider lifecycles (links closely with QCA Science Unit 4: ‘Habitats’ and Science 5B: ‘Lifecycles’) and Interdependence and Adaptation (links with QCA Science Unit 6A: ‘Interdependence and Adaptation’).

At Key Stage 3: Ecological Relationships in Ponds and Variation and Classification.

At Key Stage 4: Freshwater Ecology and Bugs on Bushes.

At A-Level: Biodiversity and Energy and Ecosystems.

The Centre also offers informal learning opportunities including ‘minibeasts’ themed childrens holiday ‘safaris’ and family drop in days.

For those of you keen to extend knowledge and skills, the Centre also runs natural history local interest courses for adults.

Anneke Kempton, a member of the education team at Epping Forest Field Centre is due to lead a ‘Bugs in Epping Forest’ course on Sunday 1st August. Anneke who has a keen interest in invertebrates is a graduate in Zoology and has a Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation.

For further details on all activities and courses or to book call the Centre on 0208 502 8500 or visit the Centre’s website.