Aran's Blog -School Nature Trail

April 2014, Spring is springing all around our nature trail

2/4/2014

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Check out the trail throughout the year and notice seasonal changes. Each season brings it's own beauty.

1/4/2014

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The stages of the trail are :

Wild Garden
Hedgerow
Mini Beast Hotel
Weeping Copper Beach
Birch Copse
Heather Bed
Wood
Cherry Tree
Gorse
Buddlia
Hawthorn Tree
Log Pile

This School plan shows the location of the Nature Trail.
Check it out on Senior 4 noticeboard .

Stage 12 : the Log Pile
This is one of our insect homes. Rotting piles of wood are great homes for all bugs and insects.

The Log Pile in September 2013

The Log Pile in November 2013 Autumn

The Log Pile in January 2014 Winter

The Log Pile in February 2014

The Log Pile in April 2014 - Spring
--click on the picture to see slugs, earthworms and woodlice

The Log Pile in June 2014 - Summer

Stage 11 : Hawthorn Tree
The Hawthorn is a native Irish tree. It has beautiful white blossom in Spring and dark red berries in Autumn. It gives great shelter and food to all animals. It is considered unlucky to cut down or damage a lone hawthorn as this could be a fairy tree.

Hawthorn Tree in September 2013

Hawthorn Tree in November 2013 Autumn

Hawthorn Tree in January 2014 Winter

Hawthorn Tree in February 2014

Hawthorn Tree in April 2014 Spring
click on the picture to see the buds

Hawthorn Tree in June 2014 Summer

Stage 10: Buddlia,
Also known as the Butterfly Bush. They have lots of nectar so butterflies and bees love them. Buddleias come in lots of different colours, white, pink, red, purple orange and yellow.

Buddlia in September 2013

Buddlia in November 2013 Autumn

Buddlia in January 2014 Winter

Buddlia in April 2014 Spring

Buddlia in June 2014 Summer

Stage 9 : Gorse
Also known as furze. It is prickly and it grows all over Ireland. Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut scent. Somewhere in Ireland , Gorse is almost always in flower.

Gorse in September 2013

Gorse in November 2013 Autumn

Gorse in January 2014 Winter

Gorse in February 2014

Gorse in April 2014 Spring

Gorse in June 2014 Summer

Stage 8 : Cherry Tree We consider this to be our tree as it grows outside our classroom window. We have become very familiar with the changes in this beautiful tree throughout the year.

Cherry Tree: September 2013

Cherry Tree in November 2013 Autumn

Cherry Tree in Winter- January 2014

Cherry Tree in February 2014

Cherry Tree in April 2014 - Spring

Cherry Tree in June 2014 Summer

Stage 7 : The Wood
We have a great collection of trees here. There is oak, ash, rowan and lime.

The Wood in September 2013

The Wood in November 2013 - Autumn

The Wood in Winter January 2014

The Wood in February 2014..

The Wood in April 2014 - Spring

The Wood in June 2014 Summer

Stage 6 : Heather Bed Heathers like poor, acidic soil. They grow across the bogs of Ireland. Bees absolutely love heathers. Pick a piece of white heather - it is said to be lucky!

Heather Bed in September 2013

Heather Bed in November 2013 Autumn

Heather Bed in Winter January 2014

Heather Bed in February 2014

Heather Bed in April 2014 Spring

Heather Bed in June 2014 Summer

Stage 5 : Birch Copse
A copse is a small gathering of trees. It is cool and shady here. The caterpillars of many types of butterflies and moths like to eat birch leaves. The wood of a birch tree is very hard.

Birch Copse in September 2013

Birch Copse in November 2013 - Autumn

Birch Copse in January 2014, Winter

Birch Copse in February 2014

Birch Copse in April 2014 -- Spring

Birch Copse in June 2014 Summer

Stage 4 : The Weeping Copper Beech
This tree hangs it’s branches as if it is sad. It has pretty purple leaves. It will lose these leaves for the winter. We can use them in our art work.

The Weeping Copper Beech in September 2013

The Weeping Copper Beech in November 2013 - Autumn

The Weeping Copper Beech in winter time, January 2014

The Weeping Copper Beech in February 2014

The Weeping Copper Beech in April 2014- Springtime

The Weeping Copper Beech in June 2014 Summer

Stage 3 : The Mini Beast Hotel
Residents include : woodlice, beetles, earwigs, worms, ants, spiders, snails, slugs!

The Mini Beast Hotel in September 2013

The Mini Beast Hotel in November 2013 Autumn

The Mini Beast Hotel in Winter, January 2014

Oh Dear the Mini Beast hotel needs refurbishing.
No guests staying at the moment.
The storm did some damage to this hotel.

The Mini Beast Hotel in February 2014

The Mini Beast Hotel in April 2014- Springtime

The Mini Beast Hotel in June 2014 Summer

Stage 2 : The Hedgerow
Hedgerows are an important part of the Irish countryside. Birds nest in them. Bugs live in them. Foxes, badgers, hares and rabbits shelter in them. What an Interesting habitat!

The Hedgerow in September 2013

The Hedgerow in November 2013 Autumn.

The Hedgerow in January 2014 Winter

The Hedgerow in February 2014

The Hedgerow in April 2014 - Springtime

The Hedgerow in June 2014 Summer

Stage 1 : The Wild Garden
We have let this area grow wild. Bees and bugs love wild flowers and plants. We have planted two oak and two rowan trees here. Both trees are native to Ireland.

The Wild Garden in September 2013
Yarrow , Ragwort, Knapweed, Tormentil Buttercup, Willowherb and Daisy