Sail downstream

Make a bark boat and watch it set sail across pond or stream: how far will it travel? What insects will it sail near? There are invertebrates that live in and on the water.  Go pond dipping to have a closer look at the underwater world we don’t often get to see.

Ponds are particularly good for invertebrates including the large red damselfly, common darter and broad-bodied chaser dragonflies. More common creatures your net may sweep up are caddisfly larvae, water boatman, dragonfly nymphs or water scorpions. After you have had a chance to observe them in a container of pond water, don’t forget to put them back where you found them.