It was a joy to spend a day working with families and children at Cley Marshes for Norfolk Wildlife Trust in April surrounded by the stunning marine photography of Jack Perks – whose underwater filming many of us will have seen on David Attenborough’s Wild Isles.
We explored marine life and eel habitat, reflected and wrote together outside on the marshes. Plus examined evidence exploring the decline of the European Eel – from reports, headlines and statistics, to an antique eel spear on loan from the Broads Authority and information from Ely Museum. I shared illustrations by Bronwen Vaughan from The Last Eel on Earth to help us journey through the extraordinary life cycle of the European Eel and children and families created their own eel inspired creative pieces to share as part of World Eel Day 2023!
The methodology I used on this workshop is inspired by National Geographic Education’s pedagogies that I’ve found helpful to support nature learning for young people and children, with links to science, geography and empowered storytelling. Plus activities developed while piloting The Last Eel on Earth with children, in schools across Norfolk supported by Arts Council England.
The Last Eel on Earth is being published as a mini children’s book and shared in educational packs as part of World Eel Day in May, supported by Broads Authority, Love the Broads and the Broads Trust – in association with the University of Plymouth.
You can request a free pack for your school, as an environmental educator or as a home educator if part of the home education community, by emailing me on ruthie@ruthiecollins.co.uk Copies of The Last Eel on Earth will also be on sale in the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre shop and other stockists.
So wonderful to see so many people so excited about this beautiful creature! So many fantastic pieces created which you’ll be able to see as part of World Eel Day on the programme.
Love this line from ‘Slithery the Slithery Eel’ created on the workshop (pictured below):
‘Slithery the Eel was slithering through the reeds, singing a song about what she really needs. Stop taking my family please. Clean up the oceans and the seas.’
Visit Beneath The Waterline, from Jack Perks until May the 4th at Cley Marshes Visitor Centre, Norfolk Wildlife Trust. More information here.
