Half-term this week and as such the Education team have been busy hosting bird activities in conjunction with Pathways and The Bridges Children’s Centres and caring for children engaged in Wild Days Out school holiday activities.
The Wild Days Out theme this half-term was entitled “Legends of the Lakes” and provided plenty of opportunity for exploring the reserve whilst finding out more about local legends and folklore; the (inappropriately named!?) willo-the-wisp, Lawrence, who used to cause havoc in the New Forest bogs, the similarly gruesome Grindylows who would lure children into ponds and rivers, the Burley Dragon, the Mockbeggar Man, Alice Lisle and more.
Things took an unexpected turn however when we had a report of a large black cat on the reserve, seen fleetingly on the lichen heath and it is truly amazing what evidence of this panther like creature we then managed to stumble across during our travels:
Searching for big cat evidence…
Is this the site of a kill?
Panther droppings? The children noticed they smelt like chocolate, but then if otter spraint can smell of palma violets, why not?!
Panther track?
One of the tracks with a child’s hand for scale
All, almost, believable!
Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve 
What a lovely, exciting day you made for those children. I can imagine that they still have not stopped talking about it all telling everyone what they saw and learned at Blashford Lakes. The children must have been in absolute awe.
Thanks April – we hope so. We’re also hoping taht the Daily Echo don’t get wind of it and try and run a news story before checking the facts!