There are no rubbish bins in nature. Trees and plants drop their leaves on the ground. The leaves that collect on the ground is called leaf litter. TOCK was fascinated to learn that nature has its very own clean up crew who collect this leaf litter and recycle it.
Nature’s clean up crew includes earthworms, beetles, woodlice, snails, slugs, millipedes, fungi, lichens who spend their whole lives recycling for nature.
Each creature has its own special job. Slugs, beetles, millipedes and woodlice chew and munch on the leaf litter and break the leaves into very small pieces. Then when they ‘poop’, these tiny bits of leaves and nutrients (food/vitamins for the plants) go back into the soil to help new plants and trees to grow. So nothing is wasted.
Nature Recyclers Matching Game
Drag the words over their matching picture and click check to see how well you scored.
Follow on ideas:
Nature Recyclers Hunt
Perhaps you could go on a nature recyclers hunt. Some good places to find them are on and around an old tree log, under a rock or under a group of trees. Even take a magnifying glass along with you so you can see them a little closer.
Study some of these awesome recyclers inside by carefully collecting some leaf litter and placing it over some soil in a large clear plastic/glass container or terrarium. Ensure you keep the leaves damp. Place a screen over the container and see these nature recyclers in action.
REMEMBER not to hurt or disturb these remarkable recyclers too much as they are doing an important job in helping to keep the Earth amazing. Return any creatures you have collected back to their normal homes.