Woodwell Meadows is a beautiful Local Nature Reserve in Littleton on Severn. This unique local landscape was looked after for many years by a family and is now a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. The reserve comprises two fields of unimproved grassland which are of special importance to the wildlife of the local area. They have never had any pesticides or fertilisers used on them, leaving them full of nature and diversity. They are particularly notable for their wild flowers and orchids.

Children (and adults!) can explore the reserve throughout the year with the help of the Woodwell Journal. The journal was developed with the support of Olveston CEVC Primary School and Aust Parish Council. You can download and print a copy using the links below, or if you’d like hard copies for your class, contact the Community Spaces team at SGC (01454 863725).

You could also book a meadow sweep with Ed Drewitt.

Curriculum Links:

1. Pupils should give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics. (Year 6 science)
2. Through direct observations where possible, pupils should classify animals into commonly found vertebrates and invertebrates. (Year 6 science)
3. Pupils should be taught to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials. (KS2 Art)
4. Pupils should be taught human geography, including: types of settlement and land use (KS2 Geography)
5. Pupils should be taught about changes within living memory (KS1 History).

Ideas For Activities:

1. Use quadrats or transect lines to sample the biodiversity of the area. Use your sense of sight to count and identify the different species.
2. Explore how this meadow is different to the next meadow along the footpath. Identify different species of plants and animals.
3. Produce a key for the different species found in the meadow. Make detailed scientific sketches of the species you have found.
4. Use this as an example of the land use in the area and compare and contrast this to other local land use, for example industrial and residential.
5. Look at the letter (see link below) explaining how the nature reserve came into existence. Can students devise a letter detailing the type of legacy they would like to leave in the local landscape.