Pupils at Ashville Acorns have been learning how to solve one of nature’s most prickly problems – by safeguarding the future of hedgehogs.
Harrogate pupils learn how to safeguard one of UK's most-loved animals
Budding Sir David Attenboroughs at a Harrogate school have been learning how to solve one of nature’s most prickly problems – by safeguarding the future of one of Britain’s best-loved animals.
The broadcaster and biologist is back on TV screens highlighting the plight of species around the globe affected by human behaviour.
Yet there’s one closer to home which youngsters from Ashville Acorns Pre-Prep at Ashville College can now speak about with more authority.
It follows a visit by two-year-old Rhubarb, from Prickly Pigs Rescue Centre, as part of their topic exploring British wildlife.
It allowed the youngsters, aged between two and five, to get up close to a shy and secretive species which has been suffering a worrying decline since the turn of the millennium.
Head of Ashville Acorns Pre-Prep, Charlotte Cryer, said:
“Each day at Ashville Acorns Pre-Prep is a new adventure, as we aim to ignite the imaginations of our pupils and bring learning to life with external visitors and trips outside of the classroom.
“Our spacious and leafy campus enables our Acorns and Reception children to spend lots of time exploring the great outdoors, be curious and develop a love for learning.”
Hedgehog numbers have halved in some areas of the country, possibly because of an increase of easy-maintenance gardens, more intensive farming, and the removal of grassland, meadows and hedgerows.
Otley-based Prickly Pigs was founded just three years ago yet has already helped over a thousand hedgehogs recover from sickness or injury, releasing many back into the wild.
And, following Rhubarb’s visit, Ashville’s Pre-Prep pupils have now embraced hedgehogs in their learning - singing songs about them in music lessons and making homes for them out of logs and leaves.
Hedgehogs and their environment have also been used as a theme to animate maths lessons and to enhance outdoor learning as a fundamental part of the school curriculum.
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