Sunday 27 April 2014

Testing, Testing








Runnymede! 

Testing the Rucksacks - Hannah Owen, Gatton Trust's education trainee reports:

What a day outdoors we had. The sun was shining and the bugs were flying creating the perfect setting for a fun family day out, if of course you had one of our green rucksacks to zip up, pack up and take on a hunt around the meadows and woods for some juicy finds, facts and figures.

Each rucksack was bursting with bug pots – microscopes - measuring tapes – maps and information cards to guide each group through Runnymede, past to present.

Here we stood on the same ground that King John and his barons had met nearly eight hundred years ago to sign the Magna Carta, the written promise that the king would govern England in accordance to the feudal law. This moment marked an attempt to stop the abuse of power and the suffering of England’s people by a king, much to King Johns disdain.

Nearby sits the JFK memorial and the Kennedy steps, which once conquered provide a beautiful view of the surrounding meadows and the River Thames running by. The information provided at each memorial in combination with the booklets and fun facts in our rucksacks created an enchanting hunt through history suitable for both adults and children, keeping everyone happy.

The theme of freedom rang true in every essence of the day, families were given all the tools they needed, a few hinters and then allowed to venture off in search of their treasures – be it woodlice or inscriptions in stones.

It also provided a chance to get your heart pumping and feet stomping (big and small) in and amongst nature, learning about a poignant time in our heritage along the way too.

It’s safe to say from this trial day, the rucksacks are here to stay! And if that’s not enough to entice you there’s easy road access, parking and a café to refresh and recharge those much needed batteries.
Left: the trial team, testing HQ - thank goodness it was a sunny day - and featuring rucksack no. 5

Gatton Trust provides the specialist Education input to the Landscapes Live! project 

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