Too many teachers are anxious about the risks involved in letting children experience the wildness of nature directly. The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has produced a pack whose title, The Message is Fun, puts the emphasis where it rightly belongs. While giving appropriate advice about health and safety, the book is full of good, practical ideas. If you don’t want to make a photosynthesis factory or investigate the behaviour of birds and bats, you can explore the connections between camouflage and habitats or trace the life cycles of butterflies and frogs. The Message is Fun is free with a self-addressed envelope, available direct from Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on a first-come first-served basis.

Tel: 01642 759900