Local schoolchildren hedge bets for wildlife

29 May 2012

Fen Gerry
Media & Communications Officer
E-mail: fen.gerry@rspb.org.uk

Thirty children from an inner city school in Birmingham recently planted 60 saplings at RSPB Middleton Lakes nature reserve to provide a hedge for wildlife.

The new hedge will add important new habitat to the reserve’s play-meadow – an area that makes an ideal out-of-the classroom wild experience.

The thirty children from Birchfields Community School Year 5 class in Aston visited RSPB Middleton Lakes nature reserve to step up for nature by planting saplings for the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods project.

Wendy Murray, Leaning Development Officer at RSPB Middleton Lakes said:”It’s fantastic that we had the opportunity to plant some trees with Birchfields Community School at Middleton Lakes.

“It was a mild, yet muddy day and it’s great that the children got to get their hands dirty and we cannot wait to welcome them back to the reserve to see how well their hedge is growing in the years to come!’

Victoria Hodson from the Woodland Trust said: "We are delighted Birchfields Community School are using our free tree scheme to plant saplings at RSPB Middleton Lakes.

“Communities are transforming their neighbourhoods, growing their own fruits and food, creating shade and shelter, and providing new homes for wildlife. This year, we are offering more free trees as part of our Jubilee Woods Project to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, and would love more communities to get involved."

Mrs Sharon Beckford, teacher at Birchfields Community School said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit and planting a hedge for the Jubilee.

“It is wonderful to know that our children will be able to visit Middleton Lakes for years to come and see how well their trees are growing”.

Notes

For more information and copyright free photographs please contact: Fen Gerry, RSPB Media & Communications Officer: 07912 406 125, email: fen.gerry@rspb.org.uk.

1. RSPB Middleton Lakes Living Classroom

RSPB Middleton lakes is the ideal place to study a variety of environmental topics. Water, fields and woodland create the perfect living classroom and the reserve offers school visits across all key stages. Contact Wendy Murray for help and more information: 01213 577 395, email: wendy.murray@rspb.org.uk.

Find out more about RSPB Middleton Lakes education programme by visiting: www.rspb.org.uk/livingclassrooms/middleton_lakes.aspx

2. RSPB’s ‘Stepping Up for Nature’

The RSPB’s ‘Stepping Up for Nature’ movement encourages everybody to take steps, no matter how big or small, in order to help protect nature and ensure the Government meets its target to halt the decline in biodiversity by 2020. For more information and ideas on what you can do visit the campaign website www.rspb.org.uk/steppingup. Please contact Fen Gerry for more information: fen.gerry@rspb.org.uk

3. The Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods Project:

The Woodland Trust now offers a range of mechanisms to inspire and enable large organisations, schools, community groups and individuals to plant trees on their own land.

The Jubilee Woods project has The Queen's support - and HRH The Princess Royal as patron. It will commemorate the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, marking Queen Elizabeth's 60th year as monarch. Next to Queen Victoria in 1897, she is the only British sovereign ever to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. Visit www.jubileewoods.org.uk for more details.

For more information about the Jubilee Woods project please contact: Woodland Trust press office, 01476 581 121 or email media@woodlandtrust.org.uk