Wildlife Get New Homes at Canal's Family Fun Day

BUGS were built new houses, treasure was uncovered, and

animals discovered in the pond at the Grand Western

Canal’s Family Fun Day.

Despite heavy showers in the morning, the weather gave way

and around sixty people enjoyed learning more about the wildlife beside the

water.

Canal ranger Mark Baker said: “We have had a good attendance

considering the heavy rain we had this morning. We have been so busy we haven’t

been able to register people as they come and go like we normally do.

“We’ve got some extra volunteers to help us with today, and

it is all going very well. Children and their families have been learning a lot

about wildlife on the canal, and hopefully they’ll learn more about

conservation too.”

Bug boxes were made by using untreated timber as a roof to

protect the hollow bamboo canes which bugs will be able to cultivate.

Bug boxes were made by children to take home and put in

their gardens. Park ranger Craig Sanderson was overlooking the construction of

the boxes: “We’ve made around 25 bug boxes today, and hopefully they will be

put in gardens and help wildlife there. It’s good fun and we’ve attracted

people not just from Tiverton, but all over the place and got them involved

with out activities. Hopefully they will come back again.”

One of those who were busy making a bug box was Jessica

Robinson, 5: “I’ve enjoyed making a bug box. I hope we will get flies and

spiders living in the bug box, but I don’t like daddy long legs.”

Another who was busy making sure her bug box was an ideal

habitat for wildlife was Dulcie Cruwys, 5: “I think we will get ladybirds,

caterpillars and butterflies in my bug box.

“I enjoyed having my face painted, and seeing a baby newt in

the pond.”

Her father Bob Cruwys added: “It has been a really fun day,

and we’ve learnt a lot by looking in the pond and seeing what animals we could

find.

“It’s good to have this kind of event going on during the

summer holidays. We saw it advertised in the paper, and thought we would come

along and take our children.”

The Devon Wildlife Trust was also at the fun day answering

questions about what they do in the county. Jo Forsyth from the trust said: “We’ve

had lots of people interested in what we do and three people are coming on

board as members.

“We hope we can get people involved and more aware of the

natural environment. The canal is doing that well so the Wildlife Trust being

here today compliments the event nicely, and we hope to come back to more

events like this.”