This photo captures the genuine enthusiasm and curiosity that the Croft Prep. School students have for nature-based activities at Alscot. Tom Genders hosted his fourth consecutive activity day on Alscot's Biodiversity Net Gain site — 47 acres of land carefully managed to restore and enhance grasslands to provide plant and wildlife habitats, over a minimum of 30 years. The site offsets habitat loss caused by development elsewhere in the region.

The day was filled with engaging, hands-on experiences, including:

• Orienteering – Map reading and native tree identification

• Foraging – Searching for plants (supposedly) for Mr. Genders’ lunch

• Team building – A practical, problem-solving STEM challenge

And no doubt Tom Genders demonstrated his abundant knowledge and keen ear, to identify various bird song.

P.S. Mr. Genders did not actually eat any of the foraged plants!