From tropical Glasshouses to animal encounters, students enjoy hands-on learning outside the classroom.

Over two hot and sunny days in May, our Year 7 students visited the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to explore the natural world and enjoy a unique learning experience.

Adventuring around the gardens for the orienteering task. 

The year group was split across two visits, with half attending on 12th May and the other half on 19th May.

Despite the warm weather, students made the most of their time, gaining insight into a wide range of plant life in the Gardens’ famous Glasshouses.

The change in temperature across each environment was a fascinating way to understand how different plants adapt and thrive in varying climates.

Admiring the natural world from inside the Glasshouses.

Students also took part in an orienteering challenge, which had them reading maps, following clues around the site, and answering questions in groups. It provided an excellent opportunity to develop teamwork, problem-solving, and navigation skills.

Our photo competition is starting to get competitive!

The highlight of the day for many was the animal handling session, where students met a variety of creatures cared for by the Botanical Gardens.

From Kevin the African land Snail to Rambo the Bearded Dragon, the session was a memorable one.

A particularly brave moment came when Mr Simpson conquered his fear by holding Peppa the Corn Snake, to the great delight of the students!

They also asked plenty of insightful questions, showing a genuine interest in animal care and biology. 

The Year 7’s meeting Peppa the Corn Snake, a mixed set of reactions. 

“We’ve been to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham and held animals. We held a snake, we held lizards, Bearded Dragons, Cockroaches and a Stick Insect. 

Kevin the Snail was the coolest!

We did Orienteering, which was a fun activity. That was amazing. We got to wander around the gardens, we almost got lost, but we found our way back.

For the last activity, we went to the greenhouses. It was very hot, and there were lots of different types of plants. It looked amazing.

We are very happy, it was an amazing trip!”

Sienna, Oliva and Isbella. 7A

Class 7A enjoying a quick photo opportunity before heading back home on the coach.

Alongside the hands-on experience, the session was full of fun facts, like how a bearded dragon can puff up its body and beard to appear larger when it feels threatened, a natural defence mechanism.

It was a fantastic couple of days that gave our Year 7s a new perspective on learning, helping them connect with the natural world while developing confidence and collaboration outside of the classroom.