Activity Catch-up - January to April 2012

Post date: May 10, 2012 6:41:35 PM

We realise we've been a little lax in bringing you news of what we've been up to this year, but we've had some busy times. We're pleased to be working quite regularly (weather permitting) with Botton's Family Funfairs, which allows us to meet new groups of people in areas we've not been to previously. We've also had the support of a number of excellent volunteer helpers, which has meant that we've been able to split into two groups at times to allow us to take on a second smaller event that we otherwise have had to turn down; thank you Greg, Steve, Stuart and Iwona (I hope that's how it's spelt).

January brought us a number of talks - St Francis' and St Mary's Youth Group in West Wickham, CSMA Club in Bexleyheath, an 8-12 Club in New Ash Green, and St Michael's Wives (nothing to do with Marks and Spencers) in Welling. The youth groups had a talk about the animals and a general handling, while the adult groups heard Luc's now near-legendary talk on how we got started (and it all starts with some tropical fish!)

February saw us at a Beaver group in Banstead (although a major traffic incident meant we had to reschedule at the last minute), a Kenley Guide company and the start of our outdoor events. For seven days over half-term we were on Blackheath with Botton's - in the snow! Some additions to our equipment meant that heat strips could be placed under the reptiles' boxes, so at least they were warm, even if we weren't! We also did a lecture with handling at Cooling's garden centre.

In March we had a wonderful day at Warren Road School Spring Fair in Orpington. The school runs three fairs each year; one is purely internal, but the other two (Spring and Christmas) are organised by different committees which try to do out-do each other, so there was plenty going on. We then has a half day's teaching at Riverston School, followed by another event with Botton's at a much smaller venue in Beckenham, and it was here that we had an encounter that led to one of our most unusual bookings to date; Citrine was booked to appear in a music video!

The first two weekends of April saw us at Deptford Park and Mountsfield Park with Botton's, with a private event for The Maypole Project (which supports children with complex medical problems) in between, but then the bad weather set in. We were pleased to receive, at very short notice, an invitation to participate in a pre-match family event for Crystal Palace Football Club which was highly enjoyable, and brought us to a new audience, and we hope to have the opportunity to work with them again next season. The month ended with another teaching session, this time at the Glebe School in West Wickham.