IN an enriching educational initiative, the Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) countryside team welcomed primary school children from across the borough to discover the captivating world of invertebrates residing in the local nature reserves.

Nearly 500 children from eight primary schools across the borough took part in sessions that gave them an opportunity to get hands-on with several nature reserve-themed activities.

The school children enjoyed an interactive experience learning to identify a variety of invertebrates that live in Test Valley lakes at the nature reserves

They took part in activities like pond dipping where they found plenty of pond snails and water boatmen, coupled with some exciting finds such as water scorpions and dragonfly nymphs.

READ MORE: Test Valley Borough Council planning applications

There were a range of school sessions carried out across the summer months that included a focus on things like habitats, landscapes, and plant and animal lifecycles.

Community and leisure portfolio holder, Cllr Terese Swain, said: “This is a fantastic outdoor learning opportunity for local primary school children. Learning about the natural environment and habitats and plants on our doorstep is vital for the next generation, and the more children we can get passionate about these topics at a young age will only benefit the borough in the future.”

The Test Valley Borough Council outdoor learning programme is conducted every summer term and if your school is interested, get in touch with the countryside team at Test Valley Borough Council.