Pupils learn all about reindeer

CHILDREN at St Mary’s Preparatory School in Henley enjoyed a special visit by two reindeer.

Flash and Jet came from Riverways Farm in Twyford and were kept in a pen in the playground while each year group took turns to ask questions to handler and farmer, Andy Cardy.

Children were told about the reindeer’s diet, how they are cared for, how their antlers are shed each year and the areas and habitats they live in. Pupils were then asked by Mr Cardy what they had learned from the session. Mr Cardy was joined by Megan Rowson, from Wargrave, who helps with the school visits each year.

Gabi Fernandez, seven, a Year 2 pupil, said: “The reindeers are very, very cute and very soft and their antlers are very strong. I learned that they live in the Arctic and their horns fall off in January.”

Mr Cardy, from Twyford, said: “We’ve got four reindeer that we’ve saved from Norway and Sweden. There are so many interesting facts about them that we try and get over in a relatively short space of time.”