Woodland name trail
Looking for minibeasts? WildID FSC Woodland name trail is a great introduction to the animals of soil and leaf litter.
- Children’s guide to minibeasts of soil and leaf litter
- Use the trail’s straightforward yes/no questions to find out the names
- Clear colour paintings of the most common groups of animals
- Practical for use outdoors: lightweight, rucksack-sized, splash-proof
The guide features clear colour paintings of common groups of animals, from legless ones like snails, slugs and worms to insects, spiders and crustaceans with jointed legs, such as beetles, centipedes and woodlice. Use the trail’s simple yes/no questions to discover their names. On the reverse side, a concise Fact File explains what to look for in each group.
Most gardens, parks and school grounds have patches of bare soil, dead leaves and short grass. You can also set a pitfall trap overnight or lift logs, pots and stones to see what’s hiding underneath. Look closely in short grass, especially after rain, for worms and worm casts. Or shake dead leaves into a tray and watch as the creatures crawl out. You don’t need special equipment, but a hand lens can help.
The name trail also helps with science topics like food chains and food webs at KS2. Children can use the Fact File to sort the animals they find into herbivores, carnivores and detritivores. It includes an example woodland food web, or children can create their own.
