Dawlish pupils are winners on “Minibeast Trail”

Forty-two schoolchildren from Gatehouse School, Dawlish went on the “Minibeast Trail” on the Riviera Line which links Exeter, Newton Abbot and Paignton.  

Two of them won prizes for coming up with the most interesting “Minibeast” names.

Earlier in the year, children from the school had made the “Minibeasts”, which include butterflies, dragonflies, bees, ladybirds and snails, from recycled plastic.  The “Minibeasts” were then put on planters at Teignmouth, Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Torquay and Paignton stations and the “Minibeast Trail” was launched.

On a recent trip, a group of 4 and 5 year old children from the school’s Norway and Poland classes tracked down the “Minibeasts” at Dawlish and Torquay stations. Celia Minoughan, Citizens’ Rail Project Officer at the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, accompanied the children on their trip and set them the task of finding the most interesting “Minibeast” names.

The winners were Eden Herridge and Caleb McBride. Eden called the dragonfly and the butterfly ‘Puddle’ and ‘Rainbow’, Caleb named them ‘Woody’ and ‘Sparkle’.

Celia Minoughan visited the school to present Eden and Caleb each with a copy of the Ladybird book “Minibeasts: First Fabulous Facts” as their prize. Celia said: “It was great to take the children from Gatehouse School out on the train on their first school trip. The children chose inventive names for the Minibeasts and it was hard to choose the winners. ”

Class teacher Helen Moore commented: “This term the children in Year 1 have been looking at Transport for their topic work. We were lucky enough to go on a train trip, travelling between Dawlish and Torquay. It was a fantastic day for the children; they were able to apply their learning in the classroom to real life experiences.  The day was enjoyable for all.”

More information about the “Minibeast Trail” can be found at www.therivieraline.com/minibeasts

The “Minibeast Trail” is part of the EU Citizens’ Rail project led by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership which is working to develop the Riviera Line in a variety of ways, including by getting more people involved at the line’s stations.

Free train travel was provided for the children by First Great Western.  South Devon Station Manager Ian Mundy said "This Citizens’ Rail scheme is a great way to encourage both local children and those visiting the area to use our railway safely and confidently.”

Local partners in Citizens’ Rail – which is 50% funded by the EU’s Interreg IVB programme – include Devon County Council, Torbay Council, First Great Western, Plymouth University and the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership. 

More information about the “Minibeast Trail” and the Citizens’ Rail project, including how to get involved, can be obtained from Riviera Line Project Officer Celia Minoughan at the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership on 01752 584777, at celia@citizensrail.org or by visiting www.citizensrail.org