69th Bath make Promise to the Planet… with help from Miranda Krestovnikoff

Written by Sarah Milne

From June to November this year, some 57 million Scouts globally are invited to take a stand and work towards a better world, by taking action to reduce climate change. Here at 69th, we are committed to playing our part.

Accordingly, one Thursday evening we returned to Channel Kayaks, taking on our Level 2 paddle sports award. Scouts demonstrated abilities to safely launch and recover a boat, steer a course, and importantly stop the boat. With six people on board, plus a leader in the middle, this took considerable teamwork and communication.

While on the water, we encountered local wildlife including swans and a kingfisher, and saw bats feeding overhead as the sun set. Scouts also noted the plastic in the River Avon and (randomly) a selection of discarded fruit and vegetables afloat!

Once ashore, we were treated to a wildlife talk from the BBCs Miranda Krestovnikoff, best known for her work on Coast and the One Show. She captivated the Scouts with her knowledge and passion. Scouts were able to handle animal pelts, a buzzard wing and a badger skull and, best of all, to see owl and kestrel pellets. Birds of prey regurgitate their food’s bones in a pellet… which we were then invited to dissect with tweezers! Using an identification key, we managed to find numerous bones from small rodents such as voles and shrews, plus beetle wings. All evidence of a tasty meal.

Micro plastics can also be found, demonstrating the impact of the river plastic pollution on the food chain. All of this helped shape one Scout’s promise to the planet to recycle more plastic, and inspired them to design the poster you see on this page.

Our evening concluded with a quote from Sir David Attenborough: “No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” It is safe to say that our amazing group of young people now care even more about our environment and are inspired to take action.

Thank you to Channel Kayaks, Miranda, our helpers and The Boathouse for a memorable evening.

Scroll down to see some more pictures from the evening.

With Channel Kayaks on the River Avon

Investigating what’s in an owl pellet with Miranda Krestovnikoff

Finding out what animals an owl might’ve eaten from its pellets!

Scouts look more closely at a buzzard’s wing

Carefully piecing together the bones found in the pellets

More of a close-up view of different bones