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Guided
Sensory Trail (1½–2 hours; 1 class per session)
We explore the Abbey surroundings where you:
- collect natural colours to make your own rainbow
- listen to sounds and record them in pictures (and words)
- use your sense of touch to describe various materials – stone, wood, metal, plants
- feel and smell the plants in the herb garden
Minibeasts to Mammals (1½–2 hours)
We investigate living things, searching for signs and evidence of wildlife. Discover mice, vole and rabbit tunnels through the grass, insects visiting plants and flowers, cobwebs, feathers and fur as we walk along the bridle path to the deer park.
We also explore the idea of food chains. Find out how nature provides food for many different species, which in turn are food for other animals and insects. We catch minibeasts in pots with magnifying lenses to view them.
In the deer park we look at and learn about the deer. We also talk about the trees in the park. Then we hunt for minibeasts amongst the fallen dead trees.
At Swanley Grange Learning Centre, you can handle deer skins and antlers.
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Self-led
Habitats Trail (a morning, or all day)
The trail is a morning walk through the deer park, then through the Water Garden and Abbey grounds in the afternoon (or the reverse). A free site visit is a must before undertaking this.
We’ll give you a pack for each group leader, which contains:
- a clear map, with the various habitat stopping places clearly marked
- laminated, child-friendly identification sheets for minibeasts, wild flowers (appropriate to each month), trees, small mammals and our deer
- a ’What to Expect ‘ sheet for teachers and helpers
- a ‘Useful Information ‘ sheet with distances to toilets, picnic places and shelter in wet weather
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