Working in a Winter Wonderland

December is traditionally a festive time of year, with many festivals using lights and song to warm up the dark nights. It’s a time when people come together, provide support and celebrate. For many people it is a time to become closer to nature – by bringing conifers into their houses, adorning their mantelpieces with holly and ivy, going for wintry walks or just by playing in the snow.

On Friday 8th December, snow began falling over FSC Preston Montford, initially a brief flurry but during the course of the morning it became denser and more persistent, blanketing the fields and roads with white.

FSC Preston Montford in its snowy setting.

Our tutors were due to take Wheelers Lane, a GCSE Geography group from Birmingham, out to the remote rural towns of Minsterly and Bishops Castle. However, alert to the hazards of the conditions they re-planned their teaching to use more accessible study sites in Shrewsbury to carry out some urban geography. Shortly after setting off, it became apparent to the tutors that the road conditions were worsening and that it would be prudent to return to the warmth and safety of the centre. Once returned, Wheelers Lane were determined to make the most of their last day with us, and this snowy experience, so wellingtons and waterproofs were distributed to our ‘arctic’ explorers.

The students had a marvellous time building giant snowmen and having snowball fights around the grounds. The FSC Preston Montford education team returned to the office to do resource development and the last few things on their to-do lists before the holidays but the temptation to play in the snow was too strong and they eventually went outside to build their own snowman!

Some of the education team with their snowman 

Wheelers Lane’s coach took three hours to navigate the hazardous roads between Birmingham and FSC Preston Montford. On arrival, the coach had to remain on the lane as our drive was covered in a vast amount of snow making it completely impassable. The students were escorted down the drive by the education team. We are glad to say that Wheelers Lane eventually made it safely back home and hopefully received hot chocolates all round!

Welcome to our icy, snowy drive!

White over!

The centre was closed for the weekend as the snow reached depths of 23cm and the temperatures plummeted to -10.5 degrees Celsius at night. Sadly this meant that the Entomology day, the Shropshire Botanical Society, Growing Confidence, Aylestone College and King Henry’s VIII School all had to cancel or postpone their visits.

The whole of Shropshire was a winter wonderland and rewarded anyone who was able and daring enough to venture out into the cold. These conditions were extreme for North Shropshire, as snow only usually reaches these depths on the Shropshire Hills, and hadn’t been witnessed by local staff members in quite a few years!

Our bee hotel was safe in its sunny patch.

Our roundhouse looks like a festive grotto.

The Robins posed for a seasonal photo.

All of our ponds froze over.

A fortnight has passed since that first flurry and still patches of snow determinedly remain in some parts of FSC Preston Montford’s grounds and the surrounding fields. The roads are happily now clear. I wonder if the snow will return to us in time for the 24th and 25th December.

FSC Preston Montford wishes you a most festive time in your celebrations and best wishes for 2018!
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FSC Preston Montford opens in the New Year on the 2nd January 2018.