Challenge 1: October – November 2008
What you need to do:
For this challenge you need to collect seeds from your local woodland, identify which ones will grow and then plant them either in pots or in situ to help create new woodland for the future and to help propagate local varieties of native trees.
You could see if there is a Woodland Trust site near you by searching here
If there is not a suitable site near you, you could make the bag one week and ask the girls to collect seeds from their garden/local park/woodland to bring to the following week's session.
Why you need to do it:
Collecting seeds from local woodland and helping the trees to grow is really important because:
- It ensures that the trees that are planted locally remain native to that area; if there are rare trees in your area it is even more important.
- It helps to create woodland for the future which will provide a habitat for lots of birds and animals.
How to do it:
Seeds Identification: 20 minutes
You will need:
1 copy of Ash/Beech/Field Maple/Hawthorn/Holly/Oak seed collection information sheet downloaded from here
Split the girls into 6 groups and give them a worksheet each. First ask the girls to answer the following questions on their own and then compare their answers in their group.
1. How tall does your tree grow?
2. What do it's seeds look like?
3. What is the wood of your tree used for?
Seed Gathering Bag: 30 minutes
You will need:
- Scissors
- Glue
- Bag template for each participant
- Colouring pens/pencils to decorate.
- Print off a template for each participant.
Make seed gathering bags before going to collect the seeds in the wood. - Download a treasure bag template for each girl or pair to make a bag to gather their seeds in, here.
Collect seeds: variable time
You will need:
- Waterproof clothing
- Seed gathering bags
- Downloaded seed ID sheets.
Before you go seed collecting talk to the girls about how they can keep safe on the visit, this may include thinking about the weather, what may be poisonous in a wood, what they may slip over etc.
To make things simpler you may wish to concentrate on collecting acorns or one specific tree seed.
Visit the woodland/parkland/individual tree to collect seeds from the trees, they may be on the ground at the base of the tree or you may be able to collect the seeds from the branches.
Using the seed ID sheet here identify and collect seeds for planting.
Prepare seeds for planting: 20 minutes
You will need:
- Seeds that you have collected
- Bucket of water
- Seed preparation is key to ensuring that they grow, what you do now, depends on the types of seeds you have collected.
- Acorns/Chestnuts
Separate the nut from its shell and put them in a bowl of water, discard the ones that float and keep the ones that sink to plant. - Ash (and other seeds with wings)
Each wing has a seed so split apart and plant them separately.
For more detail use the 'preparing your seeds' guidance here
When you have prepared your seeds, then you are ready to plant. Remember to remind all the girls to wash their hands after touching the seeds and not to put the seeds in their mouths.
You will need:
- Compost
- Pots (if you are planting them direct into the ground these are not needed)
- Watering can and water
- Broken pottery
- Put some bits of broken pottery in the bottom of the pot.
- Fill the pot with a 50/50 mix of soil and compost.
- Plant the seed 2cm deep.
- Cover well and water.
It is good to put the pot in a shady place outside, remember to water occasionally if there is a dry spell.
It is worth planting more seeds than you need as they will not all grow!
Trees need food and love to grow, the sun provides the food and you need to provide the love so plan time to care for your seedlings over the coming weeks and months.
