Join our Moss Hunt

If you read my blog back in February, Ellen and the Bryophytes, you will know that mosses were a source of delight to Ellen Hutchins. Mosses are back as the focus for Team Ellen as we have just launched Join our Moss Hunt, designed for 6 to 12 year olds, and suitable for use anywhere in town or country throughout Ireland. See it here.

Join our Moss Hunt has been put together by three highly talented women — botanist, Joanne Denyer; artist, Shevaun Doherty; and designer, Jenny Dempsey. Shevaun has been posting on Facebook about her drawings of the mosses and little creatures. There is a lovely piece about a left handed snail. See here.

Join our Moss Hunt is designed to take outside to find mosses and learn about them through outdoor mossy activities and with a bit of science thrown in. Back inside, after the Hunt, the website page has indoor mossy activities to do, a bit more science, and some art based things all linked to mosses and the little creatures that live among them. There are links to resources for older members of the family too, if you want to find out more about the wonderful world of mosses (and that left handed snail).

The Moss Hunt can be used on your phone or tablet screen or you can download and print a concertina book version. Fold and sticky tape the pages together – there’s instructions and a video. It’s small to take out with you and when unfolded it’s over two metres long, allowing easy access for more than one person at once. It’s easy to make and fun to use.

Funding came from the Creative Ireland County Cork grant scheme, the Environmental Research Institute at UCC and Bantry Credit Union.