This year’s Autumnfest at Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve was a celebration of creativity, learning, and the beauty of the season. Families gathered to enjoy hands-on activities that brought nature and conservation to life.
At our stall, children explored the fascinating world of rivers and soil through interactive challenges:
- Leaky-dam drainpipes – Children tested their engineering skills by building mini ‘leaky dams’ with sticks, stones, sheep’s wool, and straw to slow water flow, comparing their creations to a smooth control pipe.
- Trout and water vole colouring, and soil word search – Fun and educational activities highlighting local wildlife.
- Soil ‘touch and feel’ table – Young explorers dug for hidden worms and bugs, sparking conversations about soil health and its vital role in food production.
Elsewhere at the event, visitors enjoyed apple bobbing, apple pressing, toasting marshmallows, and crafting leaf-sail boats – perfect autumn traditions.
Ranger Hannah Stanton summed it up best:
“I absolutely loved the concepts you were getting across – so in-keeping with our nature reserve, and definitely something we haven’t had on offer before!”
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of fun and learning. We can’t wait to see you next year!