Aberglaslyn Hall Outdoor Learning Centre

The Spring has been very busy, with every week since Christmas being full. Both Primary and Secondary schools have visited the centre; Fairfield Primary School brought a group of Year Three children in the first week after Easter and the end of January saw an ‘A’ level Geography group have a very successful week studying rivers, coastal features, and holding an urban study day. A number of the weekends have also been occupied; the most recent being a team- building weekend for the Sandwell Leisure Trust.

Over the past few months several new staff have been appointed. Eurig Owen is the new Premises Officer, Kim (Tatty) Burke is the new Kitchen Assistant, Paula McFayden was appointed as a Domestic Assistant in September and Simon Knight was appointed as an Instructor in April 2009.

In early April the centre’s application for the new “Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge” was successful. Aberglaslyn Hall became the first outdoor education centre in North Wales to receive this status.

After a spell of cold weather in February, which saw many of the hills coated in snow and many cliffs sheathed in ice, the weather has now warmed up. Indeed, despite the cold snap, many plants and birds seemed to be quite early this spring. Swallows were seen in the last week of March and pied flycatchers were back by 10^th of April.

Last September about twenty bird boxes were put up around the grounds and quite a number are now occupied. One of the target birds was the pied flycatcher and at least three have been used by this species. All the bird boxes are to be checked on Monday 18^th May and significant species will be ringed.

From now until the end of the summer term Aberglaslyn is almost fully booked. Schools from Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Barrow upon Soar, and many others from around the county are all booked in. However, there are some weekend vacancies available, which should be advertised on the website; or, alternatively, give the Hall a ring on, 01766 890233.