We were very lucky last week to have Geoff Hunt visit St Fergus’ National School. Geoff is a renowned environmentalist and botanist.

Geoff likes to teach children in schools to respect and care for their natural environment.

Geoff’s visit today was part of our Green School Flag Initiative.

Geoff arrived early and 5^th and 6^th exited the building with enthusiasm to start investigating our local plant life.

Geoff began by eliciting from the children the importance of the local flora. We heard that the beginning of the food cycle is plant and that the plants give animals a home food and oxygen.

Geoff asked the children to find different flowers in the school grounds and when they returned Geoff gave them the names of the various flowers.

We found Daisies, Elder, Red Clover, Speedwell, White Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Dandelions and Lady’s Smock. Geoff explained how the various flowers got their names. For example the daisy gets its name from days eye because during the day it opens it eyes. The Speedwell gets its name from the tradition of the wives of sailors putting the flower in their husbands boats in to wish them speed and that they may travel well,

After this lesson outside we went back to the classroom where we took out our S.E.S.E. copies and drew all the flowers we had picked.

Our ability to draw was enhanced by the fact that Geoff had brought his microscope and we were able to see the flowers in great detail.

It was amazing to view the intricacies of the flowers’ structures.

As well as drawing the flowers we drew the structure of a generic flower and we examined the role of insects in pollination and the importance of bees and butterflies to the food chain.

Under the microscope we examined two native butterflies: the Red Admiral and the Orange Tip.

It was a fascinating morning and we really appreciate the knowledge and expertise that Geoff brings. We look forward to his next visit.