Saltwells Nature Reserve
Our school has been fortunate to have forged a strong link with our Local Nature Reserve.
Our pupils enjoy visits to the reserve as part of the wider curriculum. We feel that is of great importance for our pupils, who live in an essentially urban environment, to have first hand experience of more rural settings.
The reserve covers 250 acres and has a wide range of different habitats. These consist of traditional grassland, semi-ancient woodland, heathland and wetlands. All areas support a multitude of plant and animal life including some rare orchids and butterflies and lizards. In recent times wardens have introduced a small herd of Murray Grey cattle and four Exmoor ponies that they hope to breed from.
Mount Pleasant pupils have greatly benefited from the excellent resources and expertise afforded by the reserve. Areas of the Science, Geography and Citizenship programmes of Study are enhanced and greatly supported by our visits.
Some of the many activities pupils have been involved in include fungus forays, seed collection and tree planting, making bird feeders, bat and bird boxes, mini beast hunts, pond dipping, wild flower walks, lizard hunts and litter picking.
By introducing pupils to the wonders that our area has to offer and educating them about their importance, we hope that they will be able to care for and preserve it for the future.