ANIMAL CENTRE

All the animals have been enjoying the change in the weather, which has given them the opportunity to go out for more walks and enjoy time exploring the school grounds.

The pupils have been learning about how the animals feed off our behaviour, trying to be more aware of how if we are calm and slow, the animals will mirror this. The younger pupils find that the animals do not come up close to be near them, as the pupils can often be too bouncy and loud, so we have spent time watching how when we are quiet, it gives the animals the green light to come close and spend time together, which the pupils found very rewarding. Building this understanding has allowed the pupils to have a better opportunity to get close to the donkeys especially, and the bond between the pupils and animals is lovely.

The pupils have seen the seasons change the ground within the pens, and they are eager to give the animals extra snacks to compensate for the lack of grass and greenery, so often you can find the pupils bringing up leaves or fruit to give to the animals. We will spend time preparing the ground in the pens for spring and sowing grass seed to improve grazing.

The pupils are also coming up with ideas for how we can improve the goat pen and give the goats more activities to do and objects to climb. In the coming weeks, we will put these great ideas into place with the help of our wonderful Estates team, who will help us build a little climbing track for the goats.

We will also make some enhancements to the chickens' pen so that they can enjoy their long-awaited freedom and space to run around in once the bird flu restrictions are finally lifted. That said, the pupils have been spending time with them and making the most of catching them more easily whilst in their coop and subsequently, more of the hens are more confident in perching on the pupils' arms than they were before.

The pigs have been given an upgrade and now have a second pen, much larger than the original, and they really are enjoying themselves digging up their new grounds and looking for food. The pupils have benefited from the pigs' new digs too, as it's much less boggy than the first one, so we have been spending more time in the pen, oiling and grooming the pigs. Bangers needed a little extra attention as she is shedding hair, so the pupils have been super caring and extra vigilant with her, trying to help her grow her shiny coat again.  We will work together on regrowing the grazing in their first pen so that they can be rotated between the two and enjoy the space, although some of the pupils have suggested that we let the pigs have piglets....!