Adapting to learn from the environment
Bedales Prep, Dunhurst has seen a recent influx of crane flies, also known as daddy long legs, around the school estate. Working outdoors is a central part of the curriculum so Head of Outdoor Work, Ryan Walsh, adapted plans to create an in-depth and spontaneous learning opportunity for pupils.
Pupils learnt that crane flies arrived in the UK around 9,000 years ago - after the end of the last ice age and there are now 326 different species in the UK, with Tipula paludosa the most common. Pupils were relieved to learn that they are completely harmless to humans, don’t bite and are not venomous.
Ryan Walsh commented: “I am passionate about our pupils connecting with nature and the natural world around us. We took this opportunity for practical learning on this fascinating spindly six-legged insect. Crane flies became the talk of the school!”
One pupil added: “I’ve never seen so many daddy long legs before in my whole life! When we came inside, we had to keep our windows shut, and they were all on the outside just waiting to come in!”
The crane flies’ larvae thrive in damp soil. This year’s wet summer may explain the unusually high numbers. If the weather is hot and dry, it means that the ground can get too hard for them to break to the surface. They emerge from the soil in August/September and have enough energy stored to live for about 10-15 days, during which time their sole focus is mating. In fact, the males are so focussed that they often don’t even bother to eat! Within the first few days, they will mate and the females will lay up to 300 eggs in grassy soil. The larvae (called ‘leatherjackets’ because of their tough outer layer) will live in the soil, eating plant material, until the following year. They then start their metamorphosis from larva to fly - and the cycle starts again.
Outdoor Work is a key thread through the three Bedales Schools right from the Nursery. Many Dunhurst pupils choose to study the GCSE-equivalent Outdoor Work Bedales Assessed Course when they progress to the Senior School, which has also launched a new Sixth Form Living with the Land course this year.