04 



BIRD NOTES AND NEWS. 



usr Bird and Tree (Arbor) Day. usr 



INTER-COUNTY COMPETITION. 



The Bird and Tree Festivals of 1908-9 have been 

 spread over an unusually long space of time, owing 

 to the unfavourable weather of both winter and 

 early spring, which discouraged not only every form 

 of outdoor ceremony, but also village gatherings 

 of any kind. The celebration by Long Ashton 

 School of the winning of the Inter-County Shield 

 has not yet (March 20th) taken place ; and a 

 considerable number of schools of various degrees 

 of merit, in the seven counties concerned, have still 

 to apply for the awards to which they are entitled 

 when Arbor Day is fixed. The second Somerset 

 school, Yatton, winner of one of the two bronze 

 medals, has had no celebration, but the school which 

 shared with them the second place in the Inter- 

 County Competition, and has so long a record of 

 honours to its name — Buckland School, Berk- 

 shire — held practically a double Festival. On 

 January 9th the presentation of medals and prizes 

 formed part of a very successful entertainment, 

 arranged by the Rev. Father Arthur, which drew a 

 crowded audience to the schoolroom. Mr. Fletcher 

 (head master) referred briefly to the success of the 

 Team, and said he felt convinced they would have 

 beaten Long Ashton but for two unfortunate 

 occurrences out of their control. Sir William 

 Anson, D.C.L., M.P., who has given great en- 

 couragement to this Nature Study work, distributed 

 the awards, and gave special prizes, the school 

 managers also adding to the prize fund. On Jan- 

 uary 14th a fine double-pink flowering thorn was 

 planted in the school garden, and later in the day 

 parents and friends met in the schoolroom to hear 

 the report and three of the prize essays read. The 

 vicar, Rev. W. Buhner, an enthusiastic supporter 

 of the scheme, presided, and in a short address 

 remarked that the work of the children was not only 

 a recreation but valuable education of a practical 

 character, for it trained them to be observant, 

 thoughtful, and kind ; they were led to appreciate 

 the beauty of their woods, and to become the friends 

 and protectors of the beautiful feathered songsters. 



COUNTY COMPETITIONS. 



BEDFORDSHIRE— Clophill Bird and Tree 

 Festival was held on December 21st, 1908, when the 

 Shield, which has been won by this school twice 

 in five years, was, together with the book prizes 



and medals, presented by Mr. F. Spooner, B.A., 

 Director of Education for the County. Mr. Spooner, 

 who takes great interest in the work, spoke to the 

 youngsters on the delights of Nature Study, and 

 urged them to try and learn all they could of the 

 beautiful sights and sounds around them. The 

 presentation was preceded by Nature songs and 

 recitations, in which the children of both depart- 

 ments took part ; the reading of two essays, and 

 the Society's report, by Mr. Cunnington, head 

 master ; and the performance, in capital style, 

 of Mrs. Suckling's play The New Law Courts, the 

 parts being taken by the elder children. The 

 schoolroom, gaily decorated through the kindness 

 of the teaching staff, was packed. On December 

 23rd all the children were entertained at tea, and 

 a tree-planting is contemplated when the old elms 

 in the church avenue are replaced by evergreens. 



Bird and Tree Day was held at the Coimcil School, 

 Keysoe, on January 15th. A programme of songs 

 and recitations was well rendered by the children, 

 the awards were distributed, and an ash tree was 

 planted by some of the elder boys. 



Morhanger School held festival on Dec. 23rd, when 

 an entertainment of songs and recitations was given 

 and the prizes and medals were presented by 

 Mrs. H. Thornton. The Vicar presided and read 

 the report. 



BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.— Stony Stratford National 

 School welcomed back the County Shield, which they 

 held in 1906-7, with much rejoicing, on January 29th. 

 A pretty procession of 300 children, with the vicar 

 (Rev. H. Last) and school staff, marched to Vicarage 

 Road in the morning, and planted, near a horse- 

 chestnut which commemorates the former victory, 

 a young lime tree, given by Mr. W. Paterson, of 

 Wakefield Lodge. In the evening a capita' 

 entertainment, comprising songs, acting, and 

 recitations, was rendered by the children under the 

 head master and mistress (Mr. Baldock and Miss 

 Fryer) ; and the Challenge Shield, medals, and 

 prizes were presented by Mr. C. G. Watkins, secretary 

 of the Bucks Education Committee. Eulogising 

 the enthusiasm and skill of the teachers, and the 

 interest shown by the school managers, Mr. Watkins 

 said some people thought that only the three R's 

 should be taught in schools ; but, great as knowledge 

 was, the power of observation was an even more 

 important thing to acquire, and nothing developed 

 this better than the watching of birds and trea3. 



