On Wednesday 25th June 2025, two of the BECKER UK team members – Paula, our Accounts Assistant, and Evie, our Marketing Assistant – spent a heartwarming day volunteering at the beautiful Thwaite Gardens in Cottingham for a group of Year 5 pupils from Oldfleet Primary School. The day formed part of an exciting EcoHub experience, brilliantly run by Hull and East Yorkshire (HEY) Children’s University and was all about connecting children to nature and encouraging curiosity about the world around them.
A friendly greeting and an interesting overview of biodiversity kicked off the morning. Through games and conversations, the HEY Children's University team sparked interest in the concept in an entertaining manner. Everyone laughed and learnt as they matched various wildlife terms during a game of bingo with a nature theme. The children had a glimpse of the vital role forests play in sustaining life on Earth through forest-based learning activities.
There was a lively atmosphere, lots of questions from the kids, and infectious excitement. Paula and Evie immediately joined in, supporting the groups as they applied what they had learnt. They started to view nature as a living, breathing system of which they are a part, rather than merely as something that exists outside.
We then took a guided tour of the vast Thwaite Gardens. The gardens provided the ideal natural classroom, filled with a variety of plants and hidden wildlife. The kids gained knowledge about various habitats, the interactions between plants and animals, and the importance of biodiversity to the wellbeing of our planet.
Watching the pupils identify animals, pose intelligent queries, and be in awe of the simple beauty of a butterfly landing close by or discovering a wildflower they had never seen before was fascinating.
Next up was one of the favourite parts of the day, the wildlife spotting challenge, following a brief 20-minute break during which the kids ran around to burn off some energy. In order to find evidence of animal life, such as feathers, nests, tracks, and trails, groups set out to investigate various parts of the gardens.
Everyone took pride in their findings, with some stooped in the grass to examine footprints and others closely examined leaves for indications of caterpillars. Their enjoyment of being free to wander and explore was evident. It was enjoyable to see their self-assurance and independence increase.
We returned indoors for an interactive session on ecosystems and the food chain and investigated the connections between humans, animals, and plants, the kids enjoyed listening to brief films and group discussions.
One of the day's most well-liked activities followed: a cooperative game in which the kids constructed their own ecosystems using counters. We soon realised we had some future environmental scientists! As ecosystems took shape and strategies were discussed, the room was alive with friendly competition, teamwork, and a strong sense of accomplishment.
We helped the kids understand how their love of the environment could eventually lead to fulfilling careers that make a difference by introducing them to careers in sustainability as the day came to an end. Many of the kids were excited about the possibilities, which ranged from environmental education to renewable energy and conservation efforts.
Each pupil proudly wore the well-earned sticker they were given before they left. We got together for a group picture with the BECKER teddy bear, which the kids adore and call JimBob and BioBob. It was the ideal way to finish off a wonderful day.
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The experience of volunteering at Thwaite Gardens was very rewarding to be apart of and we are grateful to the team at HEY Children's University for planning such an impactful day.
We’re very proud that BECKER UK continues to support HEY Children’s University through our Silver Partnership. Their work in providing enriching educational experiences for children in our region is inspiring, and we feel honored to be part of that mission.
Here's to many more adventures in learning, nature and giving back to our community!
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