This August, some of Islington's younger residents are getting a taste of a wilder type of summer play scheme.
Throughout the month (1-24 August) Islington Council's Nature Conservation Team is running 'Walk on the Wild Side' (WOW). Each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 15 children are sampling outdoor activities including survival skills, wildlife walks, mini-beast hunting, recycled arts and crafts, charcoal making, wool spinning, candle making, boat making, bird watching, pond dipping and more.
The WOW scheme is aimed at 8 to 11 year olds. It is delivered from Islington Ecology Centre and Gillespie Park Local Nature Reserve, giving children first-hand experience at exploring the different habitats in the reserve.
The first day the children designed and made their own aspirational t-shirts using the natural environment for inspiration.
They also had the chance to experience the delights that nature offers in Gillespie Park when they went fruit-picking for blackberries and raspberries. These were used to make mouth-watering muffins in the Ecology Centre's new energy-efficient kitchen.
Cllr Lucy Watt, Executive Member for Environment, said:
"It's the third year running we've had the play scheme at the Ecology Centre and it's been fully booked. All the activities are very hands-on and appropriately enough have an environmental theme.
"People - young and old - are very welcome at the Ecology Centre or Gillespie Park throughout the year either at organised events.
Many people don't know the nature reserve is there - right in the shadow of the old stadium. Enjoying the peace and wildlife there, you could be anywhere but London."
ENDS
Note: The Gillespie Park Festival takes place this year on Sunday 10 September
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008