Exploring our surroundings

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A diorama of a mangrove forest created using a cardboard box with modelling clay water (blue) surrounded on three sides by brown soil on which grow trees.

Mangrove forest

Diorama of a mangrove forest which protects islands from surges in sea levels.

The image is divided vertically by a sweeping path which separates parkland with rugby posts, grass and plants from two buildings drawn in detail. One has arched windows and the other looks like a shop with shades over the windows. A tree is surrounded by a fence, and a litter bin can be seen next to it. A person is walking towards the park. The natural elements of the images are coloured lightly using coloured pencils, while the building details are picked out in thin black pen.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Image: A bright sun shines over four trees, each of a different species. Yellow flowers bloom in the grass beneath the trees.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

A pencil sketch. Two fenced off garden areas are depicted, separated by a path. One of the garden areas contains a circular lawn with a large tree and a litter bin. A flourishing wild flower meadow with a variety of different plants fills the rest of the garden area. The bottom fenced area appears to be grassy.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Pencil sketch. The centre of the image is dominated by a rugby goal post with safety pads. The goal post is flanked by two stylised trees, with a further tree at the top of the image. Each tree has circular birds' nests with stylised birds. Clouds and the sun are also depicted.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Pencil sketch. Image: a stylised, softly-shaded, bushy tree commands attention in the centre of the image. To the left of the tree is a park bench. The tree and bench are standing on a slight hill.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Pencil sketch. Image: A tall brick wall takes up just over the bottom half of the sketch. Above the wall is a profusion of trees and bushes. The wall and trees take up the entire page.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Pencil sketch. Entitled Oxford, the image shows university buildings flanked by tall trees in the background. In the foreground is parkland, with a path curving towards a bench and a small fenced-off area.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Coloured pencil drawing. Image: in the foreground is a rugby field with two large goal posts. Behind the field are tall trees of different varieties, with a cottage in the distance.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Different varieties of trees grow in front of a tall, modern, glass building. Birds fly in the sky and hop about among grass and flowers in the foreground. A bench can be seen underneath a tree in the distance.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Pencil sketch. In the centre of the sketch is an ornate wrought-iron gate next to a half-timbered house. Behind the gate can be seen a tree in leaf. In the foreground wild flowers grow in a grass verge.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

A labelled drawing created with black ink and pencil. In the foreground, in black ink, is an ornate church. A tree appears to be growing up the church wall. Behind the church, and partly hidden by mist, are some of the spires of Oxford and university buildings.

We went for a walk and thought about how nature and the city link, how different worlds mix.

Child's felt pen drawing. A child in a pink tunic waters a patch of flowers. It is raining and there is a rainbow in the sky. Two buckets of water stand next to a water tank. To the left is a large leafy tree.

Watering the plants with harvested rainwater

Painted image. On the left are a large many-rooted tree and many palm trees. Two huts with straw roofs and a water butt are on the right hand side. In the middle is sandy ground with a well, and in the foreground is long grass.

Using rainwater in everyday life

A photo of a group of 17 children wearing luminous jackets, pale blue school uniform and sun hats, sitting on grass in the shade of a large tree. Beyond the children is a small, tree-lined field with a storage barn and a yellow digger.

We went on a walk around our village and sat under a tree to sketched things we'd seen.

Photo of children wearing school uniform and luminous jackets walking in pairs along a pavement, towards a telegraph pole and couple of cottages. To their left is a tall stone wall and to their right an empty road and trees. It is a sunny day.

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

A photo of a large black stag beetle among dry leaves and small plants

Lesser stag beetle

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

We went on a walk and took photos of things we found beautiful. These are our school chickens.

A photo of red poppies and blue cornflowers growing in long grass

Poppies and cornflowers

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of blue cornflowers growing on a grass verge in front of a pale limestone wall

Cornflowers

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of a blue cornflower against a grassy background

Cornflower

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of red climbing roses against a white house wall on a sunny day.

Climbing roses

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of daisy in dry grass

Daisy

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of convolvulus (bindweed) growing in grass

Convolvulus or bindweed

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of purple cranesbill growing in grass

Cranesbill

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

Photo of a large tree trunk with an extensive root system, growing in a field with other large trees and dappled shadow.

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

A photo taken looking up into the branches of a large tree in full leaf, on a sunny day.

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

A photo of the sun taken through the branches of a large tree in full leaf.

We went on a walk around our village and took photos of things we found beautiful.

How can I take this project and make it real life for [the children]? But actually, you can’t get much more real life than what’s happening on your doorstep.

Teacher

We’ve talked about pollution before and how the planet can get ruined, but we’ve never shown it. We’ve never done art for it.

Schoolchild

[During the project] it was knowledge that was going back and forth and all over the place, you know, so it wasn’t just teacher-down, it was coming up from the children as well and across the children… And I’m thinking, I don’t know…  it’s just like amazing!

Teacher

Where I live we have to brave the traffic every day. One day it took us a whole hour to get to the city and back.

Schoolchild

Do you have mangrove forests in the UK?

Schoolchild