Continuing
their connection with Eastern Moors, children from Class 2 (Y3&4) at Curbar
Primary School were invited up onto White Edge to observe the annual deer rut
with Louise and Amanda from the Eastern Moors Partnership team.
With bad
weather forecast, but holding off, the children set off from Curbar Gap car park,
passing the new path restoration and stone steps laid by the Eastern Moors team
up to White Edge, where the first deer were spotted some way away – a small
group of hinds. As the children looked for bracken, bilberries and animal
tracks for their ‘bingo’ cards and observed the deer through binoculars, a stag
strode into view, making the very blustery conditions worth braving.
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| Looking for clues on White Edge |
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| They're over deer! |
After a
walk across to the trig point high on White Edge, some suspicious looking spiky
bushes soon began to move around – two more stags resting in the heather. The
group could be seen clearly, particularly through the binoculars and the stags
were observed throwing back their heads to bellow.
The children had great fun trying to 'bolve' along with the stags, but only managed to
summon the weather! Rain was blown hard into hats, hoods and faces but Curbar
children are a hardy bunch and all made it down and back to the car park
without too much complaint for an afternoon of moors and deer-themed crafts in
the school.
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| Stags spotted hiding in the heather |
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| Children have a go at 'bolving' with Eastern Moors Partnership Ranger, Louise |
The school
extend their thanks to Eastern Moors and are looking forward to their next trip
out onto Burbage for a winter walk in December.
by Angie Cottle
