Congratulations to everyone who took part in the Spring Bulbs for Schools investigation this year! Participants completed challenges and kept weather records to earn Super Scientist certificates & prizes. Many thanks to the really Welsh company for supplying our daffodils and the 1st prize - a daffodil picking day at their farm near Bridgend. Also a big thanks to the staff at Kenfig Nature Reserve.

The standard was extremely high this year and Professor Plant would like to thank all the schools that made this investigation a success! Below are details of the schools and home educated participants who excelled.

1st place: Pentrepoeth Junior School, Morriston, Swansea. Lead by teacher Kay Mills. Prize: A trip to the really Welsh farm & Kenfig Nature Reserve. 

2nd place: Glyncollen Primary School also of Morriston, Swansea. Lead by teacher Ann Richards. Prize: A pair of digital binoculars.

Home educated winners: The Jones family from Llandrindod Wells and the Butterworth family from Carmarthenshire have shown real commitment to their recording. Prize: A trip to the really Welsh farm & Kenfig Nature Reserve. 

Schools noted for their dedication and good record keeping: Ysgol Gynradd Deganwy Primary, Milford Haven Junior school, St. Joseph's R C Primary, Coleg Powys, Glan Conwy, Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn, Ysgol Pen Y Garth, Bishop Childs CIW Primary School, Murch Junior School, Newton Primary, Oakfield Primary school, Windsor Clive Primary, Ysgol Gynradd Brynconin, Ysgol Gynradd Deganwy Primary. Prizes: Each pupil to receive super scientist certificates and seedlings for their school.

Late flowers = late report: Normally by now we are able to compare this years flowering dates with those recorded in previous years, but as it has been so cold - some records are still being sent in. Over the next few weeks Professor Plant will be working on this report and it will be published on the Spring Bulbs for Schools website www.museumwales.ac.uk/scan/bulbs

All the preparation and planning for the Slate Garden began before Christmas, but all the hard work began on the actual garden itself in February. We worked together with Gwynedd Council’s Residential and Day Services to create our fantastic new garden - and here are some pictures of the proses.

The pictures on this blog will allow you to see the whole process, from beginning to end.

We love our new Slate Garden, and we hope that you will get the chane to come to Llanberis to enjoy the garden too!

We have been busy making Tudor patterns and Tudor portraits! The plan was that visitors could paint a tudor portrait in the Church and a frame for their portrait in Oriel 1. As the portraits were a little bit tricky to make the activity was suitable for ages 7 and up, but littler ones could still get to work on those patterns!

So here are some frames ready for a portrait to be placed inside them...

... and here are some wonderful framed portraits!

Lots of you made some beautiful patterns inspired by the murals in the church....

...and then there were a couple that perhaps weren't so tudor inspired but were wonderful nonetheless.

The Peregrines on the Clock Tower viewing scheme is now open. 

The RSPB will be showing you the Peregrines on the live nest camera in the main hall of the National Museum Cardiff from now until the end of August.

On certain days there will also be an information marquee outside the museum, where you can get an even closer view of the birds with telescopes.

Don't miss out on any of the action! 

Finally, my daffodils opened on the 28th of March. Here are a few pictures. Many more have now opened in the schools across Wales. Happy Easter!