Hello there!

I’m East-Beary and Eastbury Play Area is my home. 

I love listening to the birds, watching the bees and butterflies but most of all, I love to play games here. 

I’ll be here when you come and play, as one of my bear friends says “Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits”.

I can listen to you tell me all about your day, hear all your stories or try my best to play hide and seek!

I hope you like this play area too, it has lots of things to do. Have you heard what one of my bear friends says? He says "There's always something new to discover, even in the most familiar places". 

Some of my bear friends have books and poems written about them. You can find out more about them at your library.

Summer's here!

June, July and August are the summer months, and it is certainly hot here in Eastbury Play Area.

With the hot days and lots of new life all around us, I am sure you have seen some insects buzzing around the flowers and plants. There are so many mini beasts around in summer. What sort of bugs and beetles have you seen on your travels?

Keep an eye out for dragonflies and damsel flies if you are near any water. Caterpillars and Ladybirds are starting to appear from their pupa and you might see them on some nettles which they really like to call home. Have you ever seen a lady bird egg or larva? They really do look very different at all the stages in their lifecycle. See if you can spot one.

You might also see butterflies, moths and bees whilst you are in the play area, I like to watch them flutter around the plants looking for nectar, shade and rest from the hot day. They are so busy all day long helping to pollinate.

It’s a good idea to try and have a bee bath where you have flowers in your garden, on your balcony or window box or in your school grounds. These are good at helping to keep all pollinators like bees, butterflies and lots of other insects cool and hydrated. They like to dip their toes in the water so it like a little trip to the seaside for them! Just make sure it is easy for them to climb in and out of.

Maybe you have seen some ring-necked parakeets, known as green parakeets around as they fly around squawking loudly to each other. If you can’t see their bright green feathers, you can certainly hear them! Although they are considered an invasive non-native species, they seem to be making a home for themselves here. Have you also seen any Swallows or Swifts yet? They have just arrived but are only here until autumn. They like to fly high and swoop around scooping up insects for their dinner late in the afternoon and early evenings.

Bats come out at dusk and dawn to hunt for insects too. You might be lucky enough to spot them as they from their roosts in buildings and tall trees. They dart between trees, hedgerows and buildings as they forage for their food.

Whilst you are playing in the play area, which animal will you be flying around searching for food, rest and shade? Will you be a bird, bee, bat or insect? I’ll have fun guessing which one you are pretending to be!

If you want to find out more about what you can see around you in the world this season, other places to visit and to read some good stories about wildlife, you could visit the following places.

https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/

https://www.rspb.org.uk/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/libraries-and-archives.aspx