A peaceful start: Today is a quiet day; I can hear the birds singing in the trees around the centre as I watch rabbits hopping about on the grass and deer flitting through the hedges. Most days are not quite so peaceful, however, but they are lots of fun! At about 10am, anything from ten to 80 children arrive for a day of wild adventure at SCEEC — a chance to explore the nature reserve here and learn about the fascinating creatures who make their home in the British countryside.

After the initial organised chaos of shoe changes, toilet trips and lost lunch boxes, we all settle down to start the day’s activities.

I like to start the day by finding out what groups already know about their wild neighbours by asking the simple question: “What sort of animals do you think might live in a nature reserve like this one?”

More often than not the response is lions, closely followed by tigers and occasionally even the odd shark! Perhaps Finding Nemo and Madagascar can explain the tendency for more exotic creatures being at the front of children’s minds when it comes to naming animals, but I hope by the end of the day our native species can inspire the same level of excitement.

Into great outdoors: As we head outside to discover what bugs and beasties live in the different habitats of the reserve, it is amazing to see the concentration and dedication of the young naturalists accompanying me.

The proud capture of a water scorpion from the pond, the joyful discovery of an ant’s nest under a log, or the shocking sight of a giant spider in a sweep net could give even the most ferocious lion a run for its money in the excitement stakes.

To get the opportunity to inspire the next generation of champions for our planet is a great feeling. It was my early education in wildlife from walks in the countryside, school trips and wildlife events that led me to a career in environmental education. I vividly remember my first primary school trip to a nature reserve — I got a little over-excited and fell into the pond we were supposed to be dipping in! But the wonder of seeing those weird and wonderful bugs is still with me today.

What’s on offer?: The programmes offered at SCEEC run all year and look at different aspects of wildlife from simple habitats to the lifecycle of plants, to seasonal adaptations to the life-giving power of the sun’s energy. Children can become honeybees or teddy bears; they can explore their senses through the eyes of a kestrel or the nose of a badger. There is also an eco-warrior programme which uses the sustainably-built centre to help children understand how to lessen their impact on the planet.

Find out more: If you would like to find out more about booking a school trip to SCEEC and the programmes on offer, call 01235 862024, email sceec@bbowt.org.uk or go to Learn and Discover at www.bbowt.org.uk