Animal Care

Animal Care at Evergreen 

Animal Care is an important aspect of life at Evergreen. There is lots of evidence to suggest that animals provide many therapeutic benefits for children and young people with additional needs; we see those benefits every day with our students. From students using symbols to request a visit to the animal room, talking to the guinea pigs, using technology to research our animals, saving leftover veg from home to bring in for our animals – they have certainly provided many learning opportunities for us.

We have a 3 year old Hermann tortoise, Monty, who resides in Starling Class at the Brittain Lane Campus. He loves a stroke under his chin, loves his weekly baths, and enjoys a slower and quieter pace of life. The pupils enjoy watching him munching on strawberries and falling asleep on top of his lunch! Monty enjoys wandering the school when the pupils have gone home – attached to his balloon, so that he doesn’t get lost! 

At our Brittain Lane Campus, we also have four beautiful hens living in a large, specially-constructed enclosure. Their names are Shortbread, Cola, Daisy and Smoky.  Students regularly visit them to see what they are up to and collect the eggs to sell in the café. We are even teaching them to play the glockenspiel!

We also have hamsters in some classes on Brittain Lane Campus, where students learn a great deal from being involved in their daily care.