In this workshop, children learn about the job of an ecologist before becoming a “nature detective” ecologist themselves by undertaking a survey of the plants and animals in two areas of their school grounds. Children identify different plant species, count or estimate species numbers, and look for evidence of animals, such as nesting, tracks, or droppings. Back in the classroom, children then use their survey results, to prepare a report advising the best location for an imagined new school building.

Children learn about the job of a botanist inspired by life and works of local Victorian botanist Margaret Rebecca Dickinson. They work as a botanist themselves by undertaking a close observation of plants, using watercolours, under increasing magnifications. Through the workshop, children explore the topic of plants (identification and life cycles), practise observational skills, and discuss the importance of botanical illustrations to understand life in the past and the importance of recording botanical information now for scientists in the future.

Children learn about the Union Chain Bridge, why it is so special, and about the conservation works, before being a restoration engineer themselves. Given the task to mend a Lego version of a “broken” Union Chain Bridge, this session models very similar process that was used in the conservation of the actual bridge in 2021 and 2022. Children need to examine their model bridges closely in both normal and ultra-violet light, draw diagrams from various angles, and devise a logical way to take their models apart and repair them with maximum efficiency and minimum disruption.

Children learn about the job of an archaeologist and examine two real, local sites (one Bronze / Iron Age promontory fort and one Roman or Romano-British fortlet). The workshop's key questions is, “how does an archaeologist know where to dig?” During the session, children interpret maps from the present day and the past, learn about crop marks, and undertake a mock magnetometry test using a neodymium magnet. Snythesising this information, children decide where they would like to dig in our model archaeology boxes and uncover various “finds” related to their decision and the local area.