Really Wild time for Thames Barrier garden visitors
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Author:
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Jane Nower
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Date published:
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14-Apr-2008
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Keywords:
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TV presenter and naturalist Nick Baker will lead a bug hunt near the Thames Barrier on Thursday 17 April 2008, at 2pm, to officially open the Thames Barrier Learning Centre’s new wildlife garden.
Nick, 35, star of the Really Wild Show, Animal Planet and his own programme ‘Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures’ has travelled worldwide investigating the lives of the exotic mammals, insects, amphibians and birds. However, his lifelong passion is for creepy crawlies and from the age of eight he often searched out spiders, ladybirds, frogs and toads, keeping them in jam jars, tanks, buckets and ice-cream tubs.
As he grew older, his enthusiasm for squirmy things continued, and whilst at the University of Exeter he helped start an educational youth project known as the ‘Bug Club’ for the Royal Entomological Society of London, which is still running to this day.
The garden at the renovated site near the Thames Barrier was created on disused industrial land using £50,000 of Environment Agency and Heritage Lottery Fund money. Over the last year, the space has blossomed into an urban oasis packed with flowers, trees and creatures and now at the wildlife garden’s grand opening, guests will be able to take part in an afternoon of free activities.
Janine Walker, a teaching assistant at the Thames Barrier Learning Centre said: “Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about their environment and the importance of sustainability and wildlife by looking at different species and habitats. They can get their hands dirty in the garden, searching for bugs and beasties under log piles and stones, as well as feeding leftovers into our wormery. They can even have a go at ‘pooting’ – which is where you suck a bug up a tube in order to get a closer look! We will also be making ‘bug art’ out of recycled materials, pond dipping and mixing up treats for birds using lard and bird seed.”
Naturalist Nick Baker added:
“Even as an adult I like to turn my own garden upside down looking for all manner of mini-beasts. I even have a small colony of woodlice in a plastic box, just sitting on my desk, as I love to watch them going about their business. This garden offers a lovely safe space where children can learn all about ecology and nature on a small hands-on scale, while connecting it to bigger issues like climate change and flooding with the Thames Barrier on the river behind us also serving as a visual reminder of those issues. It is important that the next generation understands the actions we can all take to adapt our lives and protect our world.”
Parents and children are encouraged to come down and enjoy the free activities at the Learning Centre on Thursday afternoon.
Ends
Notes for editors:
Nick Baker will be taking part in a photo call with visitors to the wildlife garden at 2pm, and will be available for interview.
For more information on the Thames Barrier Learning Centre or wildlife garden please contact Jane Nower on 0118 953 5868. Please come to 1 Unity Way Woolwich London SE18 5NJ for the grand opening.
For more information on Nick Baker, please see his website www.nickbaker.tv or contact Jo Sarsby, Personal Management on 0117 9738589.
Information Centre
The Information Centre is open to the public and is ideal for all the family. It features a working model of the Barrier and a video that shows its construction, operation and how it protects London from flooding. Colourful displays explain the wildlife and environment of the River Thames. We also have a cafe that offers spectacular views of the Barrier and there's a picnic and play area for children.
Admission:
£2.00 adults, £1.50 senior citizens, £1.00 children.
Open seven days a week.
(closed Christmas and New Year's day. Please telephone for details.)
Seasonal Opening Times:
April - September 10:30am to 4:30pm
October - March 11:00am to 3:30pm
Learning Centre
The Learning Centre is an educational centre for school groups. We offer activities based around environmental issues. We aim to provide fun, interactive packages that follow the National Curriculum for Key Stages 2 and 3 for a range of subjects including Science and Geography. A Heritage Lottery Grant has helped us increase our range of popular activities by creating a wildlife garden, which provides a safe and secure space to learn more about the natural environment. Please contact us for prices and more details on school visits.
Holiday activities
During the school holidays, we offer a range of fun activities with an environmental theme. All children aged 3-12 are welcome. Please call us for more information and to book a place.
Getting there
The nearest train station is Charlton (a 15-minute walk or buses 177 and 180). The nearest tube station is North Greenwich (a 40-minute walk or buses 472 or 161). Parking on-site costs £1.50.
