BRAN OF BRANSTONE
Wild Explorer and Little Adventurer
This is a Sandown Bay Story Quest produced by The Common Space in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
Written and illustrated by Zoe Sadler
Share your adventure and photos on social media using #Branstone #StoryQuest #IWBiosphere #TheCommonSpace!
Collect your next adventures from the Branstone Biosphere Centre or Sandown Library!
Welcome to Branstone Farm and the Biosphere!
Branstone is a brand-new community of homes and businesses, created in one of the Island’s most ancient centres of human settlement, the Parish of Newchurch.
The whole Island was awarded UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve status in 2019, recognised by the United Nations for its internationally important wildlife and special culture.
Branstone is a Biosphere development, shaping a better relationship between people, business and the natural world.
Branstone was once an outdoor classroom and it still is… the perfect place to learn about wildlife.
What’s a Biosphere?
There are only around 700 UNESCO Biospheres in the world (only seven in the UK) and the Isle of Wight is one of them! These are places that are chosen for their outstanding natural and cultural heritage, and because the people there try hard to live in harmony with their environment. Find out more....
www.iwbiosphere.org
Each of you is a Biosphere Pioneer, and we look forward to seeing what you discover at Branstone Farm!
More than half of Branstone is made up of parks, ponds, orchards and gardens for you to explore and enjoy whenever you want to.
These are still new, having only just been laid out, but they will grow and develop as Branstone itself does.
This means that there is a great opportunity for you to be a part of this process, helping us to name and connect the spaces and places of interest. Suggesting where new things like benches, signage and sculpture could go, and finding new ways to bring together the live, work and play elements of your new community.
Bran loves to explore and play in the wild. He loves living in Branstone because he can enjoy and explore the parks, ponds, orchards and gardens surrounding his home whenever he wants to.
Bran likes to see what wildlife he can spot. He nearly always sees something new or different on one of his adventures.
Bran has his very own explorer kit. Let’s see what it contains: a net, a magnifying glass, a jar or box, binoculars, whistle, map, ID guide, and compass.
Bran is ready to explore and have an adventure. Are you going to join him? Use your ID guide to see what plants and wildlife you can spot.
Bran follows his map to the park.
He loves to run around in the long grass which can hide all manner of creatures.
Bran is always on the look out. Just look what creature Bran finds hiding.
Can you tell what it is?
That’s right...
it’s a stoat!
The stoat is curious. Just as curious about Bran as he is about the stoat. So, the stoat decides to follow Bran and continue with him on his adventure.
Next Bran is off to visit the wildflower meadow with his new friend, the stoat.
But on his way there, he hears a rustling in the hedgerow. The nearby leaf pile is...
it’s... it’s moving! He thinks it looks a little bit like a silver snake…
What can you see with your magnifying glass?
but is it?
What can you see in here?
Use your ID guide to help you identify what you see.
Bran slowly reaches for his ID guide and checks it carefully to identify the long slithery creature.
He finds out it’s not a snake but a curious slow worm, which is a lizard with no legs.
The slow worm slithers over to Bran to say hello but keeps a wary eye on the stoat.
The wildlife meadow is such a pretty and peaceful place.
Bran likes to sit amongst the flowers and identify the plants around him.
Do you recognise any?
Lords and Ladies
Buttercup
Ribwort
Plantain
Look out for the butterflies that often flutter around the many flowers.
What flowers can you see? Do you recognise any?
Into the copse Bran goes.
Can you see what creature Bran has spotted now?
what has just landed on a nearby tree?
It’s a beautifully coloured starling.
All Bran’s new found friends continue to follow him on his adventure, but where is he off to next?
It’s a red squirrel!
But wait...
Bran is off to visit his favourite pond.
He loves the pond and likes to pretend he is a ship’s captain and all his creature friends are his crew. There are always so many creatures to spot. He keeps an eye out for dragonflies in the air and frog spawn in the water.
The frogs and tadpoles haven’t arrived yet...
but wait...
what is that sunning itself on a rock in the middle of the pond?
It’s none other than a big glistening toad.
Bran is getting tired. Where should he go next?
It has been a long day of discovery and Bran has made lots of new friends. So, they all agree to celebrate their wonderful day of exploring Branstone with a picnic.
They decide to visit the orchards to find some snacks. Between them they gather some apples and some cherries. They put what they have collected or foraged into a pile and sit enjoying their haul in companionable silence, listening to the sounds of nature around them.
As the moon rises some other night time friends join in.
Do you recognise them? Use your ID guide to help you.
After a long day of adventure, it is time for Bran to return home.
Welcome to Branstone!
Come and join Bran on his adventures around Branstone Farm. Branstone is made up of parks, ponds, orchards, and gardens, for you to explore and enjoy whenever you want to.
Follow the map included inside to see Branstone for yourself and all the wildlife and nature it has to offer. Why not take along our handy illustrated ‘ID’ guide to help you identify what you spot or to discover a wild creature, interesting insect or a plant you never knew about?
Do you know what a Biosphere is?
And did you know you have one on your doorstep?
A Biosphere Reserve is a special place which demonstrates a balanced relationship between people and nature. This means we can all live and work together in harmony.
Each of you is a Biosphere Pioneer, and we’re happy to share the discovery of Branstone Farm with you all!