On the 13th September, the Lower IIs went to Snuff Mill Environmental Centre, set within the grounds of Morden Hall Park, owned by the National Trust. The visit included a wildlife walk and pond dipping.

Stella Horrell gives an account of the trip.

‘Snuff Mill used to be a place where tobacco was stored but now it is teeming with wildlife. On land we examined various habitats: under logs, in grass and on trees. There were many creatures under logs where is it damp, cool and dark, where we found slugs, woodlice, worms, millipedes, centipedes, snails, spiders, larvae and ants. In contrast there were only springtails and butterflies in the grass. The trees were habitat for aphids, spiders, plant hoppers and crane flies.

We also went pond dipping and I managed to catch a water scorpion. Water scorpions have very good camouflage. They grab their prey with their legs and then suck out the body fluids leaving an empty shell. We also saw leeches, making contracting and expanding movements at the bottom of the tray, probably feeding. It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed it.'