Thursday 24 February 2022

Wirral's Wild 50: March Worksheets


Here are the Wirral's Wild 50 activity sheets for March, a time to spot spring flowers. Take a closer look at the structure, colours and shapes of flowers and try making a newspaper plant pot to grow your own seeds.


March activities
March activities


Things to do in March

Look for snowdrops and crocuses

Learn about the structure of flowers

Find out why flowers are different colours and shapes

Make a newspaper pot and sow seeds of marjoram or a vegetable


Making a flower section and a Shapes and Colours Sorting Sheet
Making a flower section and a Shapes and Colours Sorting Sheet

Resources

1. Blossom on trees
http://www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/activities/pdfs/pdf_blossoms_and_flowers_spotter_sheet.pdf

2. Make a newspaper seed pot
https://www.edenproject.com/learn/eden-at-home/make-your-own-newspaper-seed-pots


Tuesday 15 February 2022

Spring/Summer 2022 Quiz

Winnat's Pass in the Peak District
Winnat's Pass in the Peak District

John has set another prize quiz, this time with a Peak District theme. If you can crack his cryptic clues, you can be in with a chance of winning a £10 gift voucher.
The closing date is 31st July 2022. Download the quiz and instructions here..


Monday 14 February 2022

Autumn/Winter 2021 Prize Quiz: Winner and Answers


Crummock Water: the answer to question 8
Crummock Water: the answer to question 8. Photo: Mick Knapton, Wikipedia


The judging of our Lake District themed quiz has been completed and the winner is S M Jones, of Mickleover, Derby.
 The prize of a voucher for £10 will be sent to her.


Here are the answers.

1. 
Ancestor of Alan, former England wicket-keeper, Richard Knott passed frequently through Belvedere, where Alan Knott was born, including this place. (9, 4). Hardknott Pass

2. Article absorbed by armed flyers in cascade. (4, 5). Aira Force

3. The middle of Cumbria hasn’t any beer, I hear. I’ll move on. (5, 4, 4). Black Sail Pass

4. Bronze medal position, with pounds, not old pence - simple! (9). Thirlmere

5. Channel port near unknown river crossing. (6, 6). Pooley Bridge

6. Children tap the keyboard and take in one thousand. (6, 4). Kidsty Pike

7. Coughs up capital. (9). Hawkshead

8. Did Charlie Strange humiliate waiter I abandoned? (8, 5). Crummock Water

9. Don’t start to pigeonhole Welsh lake. (9). Helvellyn

10. Expect fish in the stream here. (9). Troutbeck

11. Failed academic at RAF station in Wales. (6, 6). Duddon Valley

12. Seen in touring Ireland on bikes: Wicklow mountains, Irish Lake District in Fermanagh and the coast of Connemara. (7). Keswick

13. Good Lord!  Are rooks and magpies a real asset primarily? (9). Glaramara

14. Good man on a horse! That’s the limit! (8, 4). Striding Edge

15. I have heard more truthful fathers! (8, 4). Honister Pass

16. Instead of a lake, you might think this was the River ‘Umber! (9). Ullswater

17. Irish lake starts from river in Greater Galway. (9). Loughrigg

18. Irritation at the back of the neck?  You’ll be climbing up the wall! (5, 6). Napes Needle

19. Is this a fee to pay to cross the ocean with hesitation? (9). Seatoller

20. Is this Arthur Ransome’s “Swallowdale”?  No, but it’s closely related. (10). Martindale

21. It’s pedestrians only, but you won’t find any shops. (4, 6). High Street

22. Lady Romeo came back to irrigate. (5, 5). Rydal Water

23. Lake named after actor Arthur, BBC commentator Ted or mountaineer George? (10). Loweswater

24. Meadow where they set up waltzer, ghost-train, shooting gallery, etc. (9). Fairfield

25. Mr Crusoe’s mountain? (8). Robinson

26. Originally, children often needed interesting stories to overcome nightmares. (8). Coniston

27. Places Mr Crooks under house arrest? (10). Gatesgarth

28. Punishment cell for a breather, reportedly. (7, 5). Dungeon Ghyll

29. Restaurant in a stall?  No thanks!  “Stupid boy!” (7, 4). Scafell Pike

30. River of the poor widow at the biblical treasury? (4). Mite

31. See young Leonard and Catherine wrapped up together in a woman’s garment. (10). Blencathra

32. Shane’s shuffled, with son, before a game of cards. (7, 6). Ashness Bridge

33. Slide out of control before first light, unfinished. (7). Skiddaw

34. Solve this in French anorak with beer. (9). Ennerdale

35. Starship captain’s manner of speaking? I don’t know! (9, 4). Kirkstone Pass

36. Strolls one day eastwards. (9). Ambleside

37. Success!  French mother follows the German. (10). Windermere

38. The waste basin leak spoiled this place.(13, 4). Bassenthwaite Lake

39. This is included in the tide table at Arnside and Ulverston. (4, 4). Blea Tarn

40. This is the tree Walter chopped up. (10). Elterwater

41. Trembling, said “Run a mile”! (7, 5). Dunmail Raise

42. Truck to carry one type of toy with mediaeval weapon. (11, 4). Dollywaggon Pike

43. Valley that recalls Wild Wales. (10). Borrowdale

44. Village pensioner. (3, 3, 3, 2, 8). The Old Man of Coniston

45. West hardware shattered? No way! (10). Haweswater

46. What a mistake! You’ve made a terrible mess! (5, 6). Great Cockup

47. Wheat straw tossed around when helicopter departs. (9). Wastwater

48. Whitehaven perhaps in balance. (11). Portinscale

49. The river in Hamburg retains its status as the city’s gateway to the world. (5). Greta

50. Little Elizabeth is hoarding foreign currency, right? Gyles? (9). Brandreth


Notes

Clue 27.  The reference is to Garth Crooks, pundit and former professional footballer.

Clue 42.  There was some controversy regarding the spelling of “Dollywaggon”.  A lot of entries had a single “g”.  The correct spelling, according to the Ordnance Survey, to Alfred Wainwright, to Google Maps, etc., is with a double “g”, but the judges decided to accept “Dollywagon” as an alternative spelling.

Clue 43.  “Wild Wales” mentioned here is the title of a well-known 19th century book by George Borrow.  Several entries thought it was a clue to an anagram of “Wales”, and entered Swaledale, but the judges didn’t accept that, because Swaledale is not in the Lake District.