Birding with East Harptree School Environmental Club

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, East Harptree
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

On Thursday 21st May 2015, my mum and dad picked me up from school and we went straight to East Harptree School.  Patrick Barker, from East Harptree, had recently set up an Environmental Club and he hoped that by me joining the group and taking them out birding, I would inspire them to be interested.

Patrick had got in touch with my mum, after looking at my Chew Valley Gazette column and my blog.  It seemed like it might be difficult, as I finished school half an hour after them and we still have to get to East Harptree.

On the day, no one reminded me to not get the coach home, so dad left a message.  I got the message fine, but Mum thought she had missed me and so they were just driving away when dad saw me coming out of school.  That was really lucky.  When I got the message, I thought we were going on a twitch and so was a little disappointed when I found out that I wasn't on my way to see a new bird.  I was not disappointed for long.

When we got to East Harptree School, we were greeted by the headmistress Mrs Bailey and a very enthusiastic Mr Barker.  Once the children were into their boots, we walked up the Coombe, stopping to listen for birds.  Dad played back anything we heard, so that the children could try and learn them.

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, East Harptree
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, East Harptree
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

The children were really interested in what I had to say about birding and were generally interested.  The girls also wanted to hold my hand, which was sweet.

The children were all Year 4 or under and so that helped not to have any boisterous year 6's to deal with!

East Harptree School Environmental Club
with Patrick Barker, Headmistress Mrs Bailey and Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Mr Barker presented me with a box of chocolates, which was perfect for me and we agreed that in the autumn we would meet up at the Chew Valley Ringing Station, so that the children could get close to the birds.

About the writer

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Scilly

Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig

Mya-Rose Craig is a 13 year old young birder, conservationist, environmentalist, activist, writer and speaker. She is based near Bristol, UK and blogs about birding and conservation from around the world. Wader conservation is important to her and she is Ambassador to the global wader initiative World Shorebird Day. She is looking forward to Mountain Gorilla trekking this summer in East Africa and to watching penguins in Antarctica in December, her 7th continent. She has recently been listed with the singer songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter.