Blog: Learning

On 2 April we will be launching the Explore Nature project

There will be loads of different things going on so look out for more information on the blog and on twitter.

As part of the launch I will be running an art and craft session about all things birds! If you fancy doing a bit of sewing we will be making badges or fingerpuppets and for little ones we can make spinning thaumatropes.

Oh, in case you don't know what thaumatropes are (I didn't!) they are thoses circles of paper that usually have a picture of a bird on one side and a cage on the other and then when you twizzle them it looks like the bird is in the cage. As we are celebrating nature we won't be putting any drawings of birds in cages! but will be giving them the appearance of flight instead.

The sessions are suitable for families, but adults are also welcome to come and sew some badges or fingerpuppets with me!

On Saturday, April 2, we will be officially launching the Explore Nature at St Fagans project, here at the museum. The launch will be at 11am in Oriel 1. Then, throughout the day, there will be a variety of different nature based activities. 

We will have visits to our new bird hide, where a member of staff will be on hand to help with identifying the birds that can be seen visiting the bird feeders. Find out also how to attract different birds to your own garden so that you can watch them from the comfort of your own home! 

We will also have a number of activities at the Tannery. The Tannery has become home to a great variety of wildlife, from protected Great Crested Newts to rare Lesser Horseshoe bats. Come and find out more about these fascinating creatures. We will also be doing a spot of pond dipping and minibeast hunting, come along and see what we find! 

As part of the Explore Nature project we have commissioned a couple of films. The first is a general nature film shot at the museum, it shows the wealth of wildlife that we are lucky to have here. The second film concentrates on the Lesser Horseshoe bats that roost here. Enjoy! 

Hooray the daffs have arrived!

Reports from Ysgol Y Ffridd, Ysgol Nant Y Coed & Ysgol Cynfran. Mine too have opened and are as beautiful as ever.

See the charts and maps

I've taken some pictures. Please send in your pictures and don't forget to take part in the flower drawing competition. If you have half an hour of sunshine pop outside to do some sketches for your flowers.

See comments from schools below.

Many thanks

Professor Plant

We had our third meeting of quilt club this saturday, we currently meet every two months with the next meeting being held on 7 May.

It's been really lovely to meet so many nice crafty people and do a bit of sewing and there's a nice mixture of beginners and more experienced quilters. We currently have space for some more people so please get in touch if you would like to come, meanwhile have a look at some photos which show what we have been working on.

And if you have been coming along, please email me photos of your work in progress!

These images are from half term. We had a bit of a love theme and were looking at lovespoons, pockets and stay busks. We looked at all the kinds of patterns you find on lovespoons, from the usual hearts and commas, to horses and forks!

Lots of people took their work home, but quite a few added decorations to our large lovespoons that are pictured here. I have to admit that Tracey Williams did a lot of work on the spoons and made them much more beautiful than when they started out.

The next art activity i'm involved in will be part of the launch of our new Explore Nature project in Oriel 1