National Trust Young Rangers find more than they bargained for!

On Thursday 14 March St Peter & St Paul CE VC School, from Carbrook, Norfolk, had an exciting end to an action packed week at the National Trust’s Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre (BMAC) when they came across what looked to be a Second World War Sea Mine whilst litter picking at Brancaster Beach.

The children had just spent a week being the first ever school to achieve their Young Ranger Award. Whilst completing their conservation task in the form of a Beach litter pick, the children found what appeared to be a Second World War Sea Mine washed up.  

‘We had just started our litter pick and had only just told the children what to do if we find anything dangerous and told them to call an adult over for any strange objects;

 Almost straight away we came upon a large round rusty ball. As we approached my initial thought was that it’s a rusty Mooring Buoy, when I saw rusty fittings sticking-out it suddenly looked very much like a mine. I told the group that it looks like it’s a Sea Mine and we have to move quickly away. The children took great delight in shouting “it’s a bomb” as we cleared the area and warned approaching walkers. For the children finding a “bomb” became an instant highlight of their week.’ Said Rob Jones, a Learning Officer at BMAC.

What happened next…?

As soon as the mystery object was identified as a potential bomb the Coast Guard were called by our Coastal Warden (Keith Miller) who then had the nerve racking job of standing watch to prevent anyone getting too close.

The area was then cordoned-off by the Coastguard who sent photos off for identification. From the coastguards photos the object remained mysterious to the bomb disposal experts and the following morning the military bomb disposal team arrived to investigate, after careful study they found it to be a compressed air container for powering a World War Two Torpedo. The Disposal team described it as similar to a giant hollow rubber ball rather than a bomb.      

The week saw the children and teachers getting up-close and personal with Coastal habitats, learning survival skills at Sheringham Park, Exploring Scolt Head Island and Brancaster Harbour by sailing boat. The new Young Ranger Award is in its first Year and has been developed by the team at BMAC with a unique mix of fun and adventure to give children a real sense of achievement and recognition for their work and hopefully giving a unique perspective and appreciation to the work of the National trust also.  

-Ends-

For further press information and images please contact:

Robert Jones, BMAC Learning Officer on 01485 210719 or email robert.jones@nationaltrust.org.uk

Nick Champion, Regional Communications Consultant on 01284 747558 or email nick.champion@nationaltrust.org.uk

Notes

The National Trust looks after more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 710 miles of coastline and hundreds of historic places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information and ideas for great value family days out go to: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/