A real trip back to nature

About 30 schoolchildren descended on a beautiful part of Letchworth Garden City's 'green and pleasant land' on Thursday and gave the newly completed outdoor environmental education centre - now the only one in the area - a resounding 'thumbs up.'

Year 3 from St Thomas More School was the first school to book a block visit to the newly constructed nature trails at Wymondley Wood, which were officially opened by Stuart Kenny, the Heritage Foundation's Director General.

Four other LGC schools have already booked to tour and learn at this multi-interest series of nature trails, funded by the Heritage Foundation and situated at one of the five 'resource' centres, created as part of the Letchworth Garden City Greenway.

The youngsters will each receive activity and theory sheets to work on, colour maps showing each trail and the tasks associated with each trail and A3 laminated copies of the new information boards. Last month, 20 LGC teachers attended a one-day practical training session when they were presented with their resource packs.

It is hoped that many families in and around Letchworth Garden City will take the opportunity of walking the nature trails during long summer evenings and/or weekends.

Wymondley Wood is now the only outdoor environmental education centre in North Herts and Stevenage since Hertfordshire County Council closed its educational site earlier this year.

Pupils will be shown how to identify trees, leaves, plants, wild birds, flowers, animals, butterflies etc...- a true trip back to nature.

Mr Kenny said: " At a cost of over £14,000, we feel that this project is worth every penny.

"We hear all too frequently these days that children are not getting enough experience of the 'wild outdoors' and I am delighted that we can help address this, while at the same time broadening their education."

The photograph shows St Thomas More pupils and teachers photographed with Stuart Kenny (front centre) at one of the centre points of the nature trails.