On this six-day adventure in South Wales, we were immersed in all-things wildlife, conservation and sustainability. Not only that, but the expedition helped us to work on our team building, communication and personal development skills, through various exciting activities. We also took part in several workshops to broaden our horizons and understand our social and environmental impact. It was a jam-packed week that won’t be forgotten, and you can read all about the experience below.

Day One

It was a cold, dark start on Sunday morning as we bundled sleepily into the minibus, nestling amongst mountains of bags, suitcases and equipment. We trundled down the country and over the Welsh border as the sun rose lazily into the sky, casting its first light over the quiet world still wrapped in slumber.

Before arriving at our accommodation, we dropped into The Bug Farm, where we were greeted by Rob Wilson, Flooglebinder’s Curriculum Exploration Officer, globe-trotting extraordinaire and our host for the week.

The Bug Farm is a unique destination situated on 100 acres of Pembrokeshire’s finest countryside. It offers visitors a chance to learn about the fascinating lives of insects, their habitats, and their essential role in our ecosystem.

We started our visit with a culinary adventure at the on-site café, Grub Kitchen, where we sampled a variety of dishes featuring edible insects. The taster session included bite-sized burgers, spicy pakoras, Bolognese and chocolate chip cookies, each dish showcasing creative ways to incorporate these sustainable protein sources into our everyday meals. 

It was a surprising, yet delicious experience that challenged us to think differently about food and sustainability.

“I couldn’t tell that there were any bugs in the burger, it just tasted like a meat-free substitute, and you wouldn’t even know that they were in there” – Brad, Zoo Management.

After our meal, we explored the Bug Museum and Tropical Bug Zoo. They were filled with fascinating exhibits and featured mind-boggling facts about the different species, as well as beautiful displays, including a map of Great Britain shaped entirely out of bugs. 

This gave us a new appreciation for these tiny creatures that often go unnoticed in our day-to-day lives. The impressively knowledgeable and passionate staff even gave us the chance to handle some of the more approachable species, including a Jungle Nymph, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, Horse Head Grasshopper and Tailless Whip Scorpion.

We arrived at our accommodation, St Davids Bunk Barns, by late afternoon. We received a warm Welsh welcome from owner Rob – yes, another one, his wife Chris and their team. After a hearty jacket potato dinner, Lauren, a local yoga teacher came and turned the communal space into a peaceful studio, teaching us a beginner’s class under the fairy lights.

Day Two

Fog hung over the fields as we fuelled ourselves with a big, hearty breakfast before heading on foot into St Davids for an action-packed morning of coasteering with Tyf Adventure.

Donning our thick winter wetsuits, life jackets and helmets, we were driven to the small, working harbour of Abercastle, and soon found ourselves wading into the cold sea with our experienced and enthusiastic guides, Ben and Rich.

We bobbed along the coast, being gently pulled around by the swell, scrambled over slippery rocks blanketed with tiny, sharp barnacles, jumped into the sea from varying heights and dipped in and out of caves lined with sea sponges.

Harley, an Applied Zoology student, overcame his fear and jumped from the dizzying height of four metres into the deep swell below, twice!

“This was my first time coasteering. I have a fear of falling and jumping off the cliffs felt exciting and scary. I would definitely do it again!” – Harley, Applied Zoology.

In the afternoon, Rob took us onto the farmland surrounding the Bunk Barns to do some field work. We measured the biodiversity and examined the species richness of an area using quadrants, finding approximately twenty plant species in both the field and hedgerows. 

We also set up a couple of camera traps, carefully positioning them on posts overlooking tracks left in the grass by several animals.

In the evening Rob set up a campfire and we huddled round roasting marshmallows and chatting about his amazing adventures across the globe with Flooglebinder.

Day Three

On Tuesday morning, we were whisked off for a boat tour around the windswept and ruggedly beautiful, Ramsey Island. The island is managed by the RSPB and is a Special Protection Area for Chough.

On our adventure, we witnessed porpoise gliding through the waters, grey seals lounging on shores, and an array of birds, including chough, herring gull, guillemot, and shag.

“We really enjoyed seeing the porpoises and going in the caves. The guides were so knowledgeable of the history of the island, and we loved going fast in the boat, especially around corners!” – Ali, Zoo Management and Cassie, Applied Zoology.

In the afternoon, Rob taught a fascinating sustainability workshop, talking about Flooglebinder’s mission and values, carbon offsetting, B corporations, and sustainable development goals (SDG). 

The students were tasked with getting into groups and creating their own sustainable businesses, to be judged Dragons’ Den style on Friday.

In the evening, we enjoyed another yoga class, a talk about the importance of seaweed followed up with a taste of seaweed cake, and a cosy campfire to finish.