RSPB Ham Wall Nature Reserve
Region
Europe
Country
UK
Flyway
East Atlantic flyway
Initiative
WLI Europe
About
The reserve is owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) – the largest wildlife charity in Europe.
See our website at www.rspb.org.uk
The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.
RSPB is a charity and funded mainly by its members and donations from the general public. The community education post at Ham Wall has been made possible by funding from English Nature and the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Education officer will be in post until December 2006.
Founded/opened
The schools and community education program commenced in March 2003
Description
Ham Wall lies within the Avalon Marshes in the northern part of Somerset’s levels and moors about 2 miles west of Glastonbury. In this area a mosaic of new wetland habitats covering 5 square miles is being created from worked out peat diggings. There are areas of reedbed, wet scrub, open water and peripheral grassland and woodland.
Staffing
1 Warden
2 Assistant Wardens
1 Community Education Officer
A full team of volunteer helpers
Work Areas
The Communtiy and Schools Education Officer works with 50 targeted schools in the area. Providing in school talks and reserve visits, funding towards transport to and from the reserve and money to help with project development within school grounds. In addition many community events are put together to encourage the local people to be more aware of the natural heritage that surrounds them.
Interpretation and exhibitry
All abilities access to our viewing platforms and hides. Interpretation including sound samples and brail for the blind.
Aimed at a wide audience including children.
Formal (school and university) learning
Teaching program tailored towards class needs and in line with the curriculum. We very much leave the decision on contents up to the teachers so that it fits in well with the children’s term-time work. Targeted ages from 4-11 years old.
More information can be obtained by contacting, Ailsa Campbell (Community and Schools Education Officer) ailsa.campbell@rspb.org.uk tel: 01458 860 494 .
For general information about RSPB’s youth work see our website at www.rspb.org.uk/youth
We are in the process of developing resource boxes for teachers and will be carrying out inset training and reserve visits for teachers showing them how these can be used.
Informal (general public) learning
Feed the Birds Day event, every October
Big Garden Bird Watch, every January
We have adult membership and family membership available. For the children there are wildlife explorer groups where they can come along to the reserve monthly and take part in activities. Child membership covers three age groups and has separate magazines that we send out 6 times a year.
The groups are:
Wild Times magazine: 5-8 years
Bird Life magazine: 8-11 years
Phoenix club magazine: teens
Contact
Ailsa Campbell
RSPB Community and Schools Education Officer
2 Ashcott Road
Meare
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA6 9ST
T: 01458 860 494
M: 07736 792 524
ailsa.campbell@rspb.org.uk