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ILAM HALL 2009 |
Monday
Class 4 arrived at Ilam Hall in the Derbyshire peak district at 11.30 after an easy journey. On arrival, they enjoyed their picnic lunches in the Indian Garden under a cloudy sky. After lunch everyone set off to find their bedrooms, some of which are en suite.
This afternoon everyone walked to the famous stepping stones at Dovedale, a walk of 3 miles there and back. No one fell in, although there were a few soggy feet after a dam-building exercise upstream. The return journey was made easier after a small diversion to the ice cream van.
Back at the hall, they were met by a BBC camera crew from the programme Country File (7pm Sunday - check the TV listings). They filmed everyone eating their tea (Glamorgan sausages, shepherd’s pie and chocolate cake) and interviewed some of the children, along with Mr Tebbutt and Mrs McErlean – we’ll have to wait until next week to find out what they said!
After tea everyone played cricket and then embarked on the rocket challenge. The children had to construct a rocket capable of flying with a whole egg inside. A few crashed messily and spectacularly – possibly scaring off the film crew.
Mr Tebbutt confidently predicts that all children will be showered at 9pm and tucked up asleep by 10pm in preparation for another busy day.
Rocket pictures here.
Tuesday
We were joined by Mr Langrish after breakfast, and set off for a morning of orienteering, which was led by
the staff from Ilam Hall. This was followed by a photography
competition. The children were divided into groups and had to take
pictures of the ha-ha, the river, the hall and a ridge and furrow
system.
The rain drove everyone inside for lunch, but the sun came out in time for the afternoon walk to Ilam Top. As the name suggests, this was a bit of a climb to the 350-metre peak. Everyone cheered each other on, and all the children made it to the top and down the steep walk on the other side to Dovedale, Ilam rock and the ice cream van (who must think Christmas has come early!) The sun came out, as did the sun cream and it was a great afternoon. The children felt a real sense of achievement, having completed a 5-mile walk.
We arrived back at the hall on the dot of 5pm, just as tea was being
served. The stuffed peppers and pasta bake were hoovered up by a crowd
of hungry children, who then had bit of a rest in their hi-tech
accommodation before a treasure hunt in the evening.
Wednesday Today was eco-day! After a hearty
cooked breakfast, the children spent the morning learning how to be
eco-warriors and measuring their global footprints. They assessed their
energy and water use, transport, and food-buying habits which averaged
about 300. This compares with the Afghani average of 5, which is rather
sobering,
The weather has been brilliant all
day, and after a picnic lunch outside, they had an art afternoon,
designing a mural of a tree made entirely from natural materials. The
Ilam staff were very impressed with the artistic skills of the John
Hellins children (and we’re promised pictures when they return). The class split up, some walking up
a nearby hill (and discovering yet another ice cream van), and others
exploring the church. Everyone returned in time for tea of fish and
chips or chicken and chips, followed by sticky toffee pudding. This evening, the children are
designing re-usable shopping bags and tomorrow they’ll complete a local
study before leaving Ilam at 1pm, hoping to back in Potterspury by 3 pm.
