Deadly Beasts at the NHM Tring (and a bit of college lake)

We took a day trip out to the NHM in Tring for their DEADLY exhibition. The TRUTH about the most dangerous creatures on earth. 

We actually learned some very cool truths too!

I paid 50p for a sheet of paper with a challenge on for us to do whilst walking around the museum. It was an alphabet grid on one side. With names of very obscure animals that we had to find and tick off when we found them. We did find them all and talked a little bit about each animal, for example we learned about the Thylacine which was a carnivorous marsupial. Thylacine Fact Page They learned about the characteristics of marsupials and lots and lots more about so many other animals. 

Miles found a Wolf. 

They were interested in the seams on the animal's hides this time. This led to a conversation about Taxidermy and Caden wanted to know what the animals were stuffed with. I didn't know so we found out when we got home. We found the information here at Taxidermy

This was our alphabet grid. 

It was particularly nice that Miles, who is learning his alphabet at the moment, could join in. He loved running about and reading the letters (that he knew, and learning the ones he didn't). He is doing great with it. Little bits of progress here and there. Here he found the letter Y for the yellowhammer bird. 

In the Deadly exhibition there was a preserved box jellyfish and other creatures. Caden was very interested in the box jellyfish. (He has been drawing and making jellyfish since).

Of course they both love poison arrow frogs. 

and leopard seal, crocodile, shark and lion skulls! Too cool!!

Miles kept saying 'I yam a walrus!' he kept coming back to the walrus, because of the walrus on his top. 

They both enjoyed stroking the stuffed badger's fur. 

Caden is looking very afraid! haha!

After we left the NHM we stopped by College Lake en-route back to MK. They have a lovely setting for bug hunting and bird watching. Caden found a ladybird. He called it a 'Marienkafer' which is the German word. Proof that my little translations throughout our daily lives are going in! Yay! 

Both of them in front of the beautiful lakes. We walked about a mile, down to the bird hide and back up the hill. We were looking for Lapwings, Common Tern and Redshanks. We didn't see any of these but we did see Mute Swans and Moorhens.

Then my phone ran out of power but we stopped at the Ivinghoe PYO farm and they collected a punnet of strawberries each. They also helped me to pull a load of onions out of the ground, great fun! They loved harvesting the veg and scoffing all the strawberries afterwards.