Science Week at APS - July 2011

The lifecycle of the butterfly fascinated boys during Science Week at Altrincham Preparatory School.

Young conservationists at APS learned how stocks of wild butterflies and bees are rapidly diminishing, and that ecologists can only guess at the cause.

Boys learned that almost a third of butterflies in Europe are in decline and one in ten species is threatened with extinction, due some think to factory farming destroying natural habitats.

The Year One pupils were given a show by science presenters Techniquest, with every year group also having a special event focusing on the environmental factors affecting local flora and fauna.

There were visits to Formby Beach, Lower Moss Wood and on their own doorstep Dunham Massey, as boys were encouraged to examine the world around them in the minutest detail.

Andrew Lingley Head of Science at APS said: "Young boys are fascinated by the world around and are immensely curious about plants and animals. We feel it is particularly important to encourage them to become environmental champions and give them a life long passion for conserving the precious ecological balance upon which all species. including mankind depends."

Pictured from left to right are Stephen (5), Sebby (5) and Cameron (5).