Nature Works at Earth Centre

Nature Works
Nature Works explores the aquatic and other habitats of the Earth Centre site, encouraging hands-on and exploratory play and education. Specially constructed podiums exhibit the different habitats, children "pond-dip" from indoor tanks to collect algae, bugs and fish in jam jars, and visitors are able to view some of the mini beasts magnified through a microscope onto large overhead screens.

The building is a simple timber and glass structure, designed by Letts Wheeler, standing between the Cadeby stream and one of the wildlife ponds. It has a steel frame with a cladding of indigenous softwood, and the roof is made of slabs of reconstituted timber waste. Nature Works is a "coats-on" experience; there is no heating in the building.

Nature Works was conceived, and designed in part, by local children, naturalists and community groups. It serves as a focus for events, demonstrations and guided tours to show the freshwater and terrestrial habitats and the biological diversity in and around Earth Centre’s 400 acre Ecology Park.

Water snail

Dragonfly nymph

Nature Works at Earth Centre

Nature Works at Earth Centre

The three ducks - Huey, Dewey & Lois 

Heron and duck

We found a rabbit sitting at the base of the old oak tree

This mole bites!

The coot had 4  babies. We could see them diving into the water to peck up stones in their beaks.

A fierce fox

Walking along the Willow World path to find Nature Works

Inside Nature Works, Richard tells us about the sticklebacks swimming in the water, and very gently we catch them in a jar.

There is a bee hive with lots and lots of busy bees. We can look through the little round window and see them taking off and landing. It is like an airport for bees.

Here we are playing with the puppets. There is a badger, a hedgehog and a grey squirrel.

We counted 4 baby coots on the nest. We saw the parent coots feeding the little ones. There was lots and lots of duckweed on the pool. It looked like grass.