The Birds of Bowland project was developed and delivered by the RSPB on behalf of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. Working with every primary school within the National Landscape between 2008 and 2012, the project involved four sessions with each school, the first three being classroom-based and the final session taking place on one of the educational access farms within Bowland.
The sessions were all delivered by RSPB education staff and, following each session, schools were left with a number of activities in preparation for the following session.
Feedback from the Birds of Bowland project was extremely positive and so we are very pleased to be able to share some of the programme resources here. You may need to provide some of the props, such as the hen harrier glove puppets, yourself if you want to follow the sessions closely but the links below will help you to deliver the majority of the programme.
Session 1 Places for Wildlife in the Forest of Bowland
What does the Forest of Bowland mean to your group and what do they know about it? What kind of habitats and wildlife would they find here? This session includes a suggested felt making activity to create your own Bowland landscape.
Session 1 outline
Opening Power Point Presentation
Forest of Bowland map
Bowland habitat photographs
Bowland habitat labels
Bowland wildlife photos
Forest of Bowland aerial photographs (available via MARIO on Lancashire County Council's website)
Bowland role cards
Felt making notes
Plenary Power Point presentation
Additional resources
Hen harrier finger puppet instructions and template (needed for Session 2)
How to watch birds daily + tick list
Class tally chart (needed for Session 2)
Garden birds colouring
Blue tit colouring
Word wall and shape poem
Habitats general
Habitats – who lives there?
Geology notes
Quernmore geology xsection
Ribble geology xsection
Riverside and moorland summary
Freshwater information
Freshwater grouping
Freshwater food chain worksheet
Moorland information
Moorland grouping
Moorland food chain worksheet
Session 2 Adaptations of Bowland Birds
Which are the key species of birds in Bowland? Where do they live? What do they eat and what special features do they have in order to help them live in their particular habitat?
Session 2 outline
Opening Power Point presentation
Bowland habitat photographs
Bowland wildlife photos
Plenary Power Point presentation
Additional resources
Who am I?
Haiku poetry
How to identify birds
In the Garden crossword
Key species fact sheet design
Adaptation – beaks
Adaptation – feet
Session 3 Bird migration and the Forest of Bowland
Why might birds need to leave the Forest of Bowland for part of the year? What distances do they travel and where do they go to? What hazards might they face on their journey?
Session 3 outline
Opening Power Point presentation
Birds of Bowland migration
Find Your Flock game cards
Postcard template
Labels for map
Bowland migration storyboard
Plenary Power Point presentation
Additional resources
Camouflage
How to make a lapwing chick
Make a camouflage headdress
Comparison poem