Carymoor Environmental Trust

23 Nov 2011: Two beautiful female hen-harriers have taken up residence at Carymoor. First spotted by our neighbour over his Carymarsh Nature Reserve two weeks ago, they have been seen regularly since then hunting over both Carymarsh and Carymoor. Hen-harriers are the most persecuted bird of prey in the UK and we are delighted that they have moved in and hope they stay for the winter.

Carymoor was awarded a gold medal at the Bath & West Show for the best exhibit in the Woodlands and Wildlife Area. Carymoor's marquee was decorated with festive bunting to celebrate our 15th birthday and filled with fun activities for children, including a wildlife mystery to solve: CSI Carymoor - Who stole Daisy Duck's eggs?

Our marquee was visited by the Countess of Wessex, as well as lots of happy children of course! See our Bath & West photo album at www.facebook.com/carymoor

Our exciting new iron-age round-house is gradually taking shape. Built out of locally sourced wood – ash poles from Ham Hill Country Park for the walls and roof, and hazel rods for the walls and reed for the roof, the building will be both sustainable and biodegradable.The walls will be daubed with mud and clay - a nice messy job!

We have just added more space to our existing eco-friendly buildings by putting up a huge tipi. It measures 30 feet across and is one of the largest erected by the company so far. Made out of cotton canvas and supported by 21 enormous pine poles from a sustainable woodland in Devon, it will be used during the summer months as an outdoor base for our 'Wild Days Out'. Touching the ground and reaching for the sky, a tipi is an inspiring space for a classroom.