Invaders are Thriving - 10 weeks on

Connor is doing remarkably well growing a marsh marigold and even his reeds have had a good week growing to 3cm!

Nath's reeds have now grown to 27cm and his plant is starting to look very substantial. He's also growing 3 invaders, 2 of which we've yet to identify.

One of them is also a marsh marigold. The other 2 are quite different to each other. One has serrated double leaves and a fluffy stem, I'm tempted to say it might be a nettle but doesn't sting when you touch it; whilst the other has smooth oblong double leaves and a smooth stem. Any ideas anyone...?

In an attempt to identify them we came across this website about leaf morphology and the diagram below from Wikipedia helps with the detective work!

"Leaf morphology" by derivative work: McSush (talk)Leaf_morphology_no_title.png: User: Debivort - Leaf_morphology_no_title.png. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leaf_morphology.svg#/media/File:Leaf_morphology.svg

Bat Boxes and Bat Walk

This afternoon we had our monthly session at Arundel Wetlands. It was a shorter than usual session as we returned for a guided bat walk later in the evening.

First off we caught up on everyone's reed seed progress and hedgerow surveying; but today's main task was to set about building a bat box. The Wetlands provided the instructions, wooden sections and screws etc. The boys had a good idea of what to do but unfortunately the sections they'd been given didn't have all the pre-drilled holes and there was a lack of long screws so we came away with a partially complete box for them to finish with the help of Dad...and a drill!

With their little sister away on her school residential it was possible for the boys' dad to come along to the evening session. Thankfully the fine weather stayed and it was a mild and very clear night.

The bat walk was under the supervision of the boys' tutors, their boss and an expert who firstly gave us all a talk about how bats communicate, feed and where and when to expect to see them.

There are 18 known British species of bats, of which 10 can be found at the Wetlands. Tonight we were fortunate enough to spot 2 species; the Common Pipistrelle and the Daubenton. We stopped at several points around the reserve, some more successful than others, but the best was saved for last when we stopped at the Arun riverlife water area. Admittedly it was alot darker by then so more bats had come out to feed, but with the help of the red filtered torches and bat detectors we saw plenty of pipistrelles and daubentons.

It was such a privilege to be guided around the Wetlands when it was closed to the rest of the public and get close to the wildlife and learn in this unique way. It just so happens we also spotted a heron when we nipped into one of the hides and saw a barn owl flying low over the Discovery water area.

The Bat Conservation Trust has a great and informative website for further information and learning.

So wonderful to be at the Wetlands in the milder weather and sunshine!

The boys built their bat boxes in this thatched Outlook-in - better than a classroom!

The bat box instructions

A little team work

In the garage with a drill it became a 5 minute job to redo

TaDah!!!

Reed Seed Progress - 9 weeks on

Nath's reed seeds are looking very healthy and have grown very well since being repotted. The reeds currently stand at about 16cm.

He also has 2 other unidentified plants growing.

Since repotting, Connor's reed seeds have decided to try and make an appearance, you can see tiny shoots coming out of the earth. He's managed to grow another plant though!

Re-potting of the Reed Seeds - 8 weeks on

The growing and monitoring of the reed seeds has been intermittent to say the least! One minute they are drowing in water, the next they are crying out for it! But with a little nagging from me, the boys agreed to re-pot their seeds into pots with drainage holes and a base of shingle to see if it would make any difference. 

Connor went first...

He was very careful taking the reed seeds out of their original coffee cup and inserting them and their original earth into the new pot.

Nath chose a much larger second home since he's had slightly more success so far.

He was surprised to see how much root growth there was coiling round the base of the earth when it came out of the cup.

He finished off watering thoroughly with filtered water!

Both lots of seeds enjoying some fresh air and sunshine. Nath's pot is on the left of the picture...we're assuming those long grass like stems are in fact reeds!

Afterwards we discussed how they could share the reed seed success/failure with the group and talked drawings, limericks, parodies. There are lots of ideas floating around but they're having difficulty getting them down and Nath in particular is resistant to the idea of standing up and presenting to the group, his lack of self confidence getting the better of him.