Harrison’s Cave teaches of gullies

John Birdman Gibbons showing St Bartholomew’s Primary School students a plant which can be used for medicinal purposes. (Sharon Harding)

Fri, June 29, 2012 - 12:02 AM

More than 50 pupils of Holy Innocents and St Bartholomew’s were granted the gully experience. Along with the gully’s thought-provoking physical features, the students observed various species of lush greenery and colourful plants.

Glendine Sealy, who is the technical officer of the environment at the St Thomas Harrison’s Cave, which is under the Ministry of Environment and Drainage, told the WEEKEND NATION that Harrison’s Cave Barbados had grasped the opportunity to acknowledge the month, through the hosting last Saturday of a public gully tour, and the opportunity to students on Wednesday.

Before the scenic tour, which lasted for just over half an hour, the students were treated to stories about gullies and the environment from the popular John “Birdman” Gibbons and Jennifer Walker.IN CELEBRATION of Environment Month (this month), Harrison’s Caves Barbados afforded some primary school students the opportunity of exploring its gully.

“The objective of this tour is to get the students to actually understand what gullies are and the uses of gullies. People see Harrison’s Cave as just a cave,

but we have a beautiful setting here, where we are in the midst of a gully.

“In essence, we want to let the students and the general public know that there is more to us than just a cave,” Sealy explained.

Nine-year-old Gabriel Boyce from Holy Innocents Primary said that she was excited to be part of the chosen group from her school to go on tour. She said whereas before the tour she “knew a little about gullies”, afterwards she was loaded with knowledge about the natural aspect of the environment.

“I have learnt that the gully is natural. I have also learnt that some plants are poisonous and some are not,” said the student. (AH)