Schools wildlife quiz

Billy Heaney

Primary schools wildlife quiz

Will your school become this year's Wildlife Quiz champion?

Whether you enter regularly, occasionally, or if you have never entered before why not join us for this year's Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Annual Schools Wildlife Quiz?

The Wildlife Quiz started in 1976 with six schools and in 2024 celebrates its 48th anniversary. It is organised and delivered entirely by a group of dedicated volunteers. In 2023, over 400 children from 72 schools took part. The quiz is a great way to incorporate wildlife knowledge into a learning programme, as a club after school or just as a bit of fun for the pupils. Over the years, we've been told us that the quiz was the start of a lifetime love of the natural world for many.

Each school enters a team of four pupils (plus one reserve), usually Year 5 and/or 6.

This fun and challenging opportunity for you and the children in your school is free and open to all primary schools across Gloucestershire.

Prizes include a habitats trip for up to 30 children, for the winning school.

In the first rounds, teams meet for a series of heats at other local primary schools in their area (you will be allocated an area when you enter). The next stage is the semi-finals which take place at Robinswood Hill in Gloucester. The final will be held at Highnam Community Centre .

Entries for 2024 are now closed!

Initial rounds start end February/beginning of March but if you would still like to register your 2024 team email learning@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk

North Cerney Primary team with winners trophy

Billy Heaney

Breaking news!

North Cerney CofE Primary Academy win the 2023 Wildlife Quiz in a nail-biting final!

Click below for support to prepare your schools quiz team!

LEARNING

Example quiz questions

Name a tree that begins with H?
Where do kingfishers make their nest?
Is a ‘meadow brown’ a butterfly, moth or beetle?
Which two of the following have pink flowers: thrift, cow parsley, dog rose, bird’s foot trefoil, harebell?
What is a linnet?
How many species of lizard are there in the UK?
Lizards have an unusual way of escaping when caught: what is it?

Example quiz answers

Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Hornbeam, Horse Chestnut
They make a nest burrow in the mud/sandy soil of a river/stream bank
Butterfly
Thrift, dog rose
A bird
3 – Common lizard, sand lizard and slow-worm (legless lizard)
They can shed their tail (it will regrow over time)

Top tips 1.

Start a wildlife and nature club

With the help of a teacher, have a regular weekly session together to share your love of wildlife and learning new things together. Remember this is a team quiz, so even if there is a budding David Attenborough in your team, make sure you are all as knowledgeable as each other.

Top tips 2.

Get outside

Make sure that your knowledge is as good when you're in nature as it is when you're in the classroom. Why not take your friends and family on nature walks at the weekend and show them what you know?

Top tip 3.

Make sure you know about all native UK wildlife

There are almost 6000 species of invertebrates in the UK. Make sure you know your birds, fungi, invertebrates, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and crustaceans!

Top tip 4.

Learn to recognise common UK plants and fungi

This quiz will test you knowledge of both flora and fauna so make sure you know get to know the plants and fungi in your hedgerows, woodlands and meadow as well the creatures that call these habitats home.

Top tip 5.

Know your nature words

Do you know the difference between a sett and a den? What about deciduous and evergreen? Make sure you know nature and environment related words and what they mean.

Top tip 6.

Make a nature diary

Take pictures, draw and write about the nature that you see around your school and home.

Top tip 7.

Get your whole school involved

Why not practice for the schools' wildlife quiz by holding your own mini-quizzes, have a nature table in your schools reception area or lead an assembly in your school?

Top tip 8.

Explore your school grounds

Don't forget to look for the wildlife in your school grounds. Are there rooks nesting in the trees on your school site or celandines in the grass on the school field?