Bug Safari & NSEW

This Friday marks the start of a fabulous week. The National Science & Engineering week.  It’s a fabulous way to get involved and spark your childs imagination. On their site they have some amazing free packs to download and you just head out into your garden to get involved.

All kids (especially mine!) love bugs and the gardens and being involved in such an event and so we were over the moon to receive the Bug Safari which ties in perfectly with their events this year. The kit is designed by Nick Baker (from the Really Wild Show) and includes a fact filled guide to get you started. It also includes Field lens, Bug tongs, viewing pot with magnifier lid, Brush and Tweezers.

We downloaded the Save Our Bees pack and headed out into the garden. Not expecting much since it is the start of March we were amazed when we actually got started with just how alive the garden is at this time of the year. The tree filled with blossom is a haven of bees and we spotted three different types (although I didn’t quite get near enough to catch one) and the ground is teaming with earth worms and beetles and all kinds of other bugs. The boys spent hours this weekend out on their hands and knees catching bugs, identifying them and recording what they could. Aimed at the over 5’s my 3 year still managed to join in and actually caught a lot of bugs, I didn’t let him have a go with the tweezers I must admit. I had vision of half squished bugs! They can’t wait till we start getting the Stag beetles in our garden so that I can go off and try and catch one! Hmmmm maybe one for daddy I think. However at less than a tenner this provided hours of fun, got the kids hunting around in the back garden and also it got them involved with the NSEW which they absolutely loved the thought of.  Why not get your own pack and print off the kit and try it yourself? Fingers crossed for a nice sunny weekend next week too!