CHILDREN from Parkwall Primary School in Cadbury Heath are playing an active role in a project to boost long-term nature recovery.
The school is part of Common Connections, a four-year scheme to create a wildlife corridor from Willsbridge to Lyde Green.
The aim is to restore, improve and connect green spaces to help tackle the climate and nature emergency by restoring lost habitats.
Already the project has involved planting nearly 1,000 small hedge plants for new hedgerows, more than 2,200 wildflower plugs creating meadow areas for pollinators, and planting more than 250 shrubs.
Now, South Gloucestershire Council is starting a second community nature reserve scheme for families in and around Willsbridge Mill, near Bitton, to make their gardens more wildlife friendly. Residents can get involved by growing more grass, trees and shrubs.
This was launched by Parkwall pupils, who followed a nature trail from the school to Willsbridge Mill, where they performed an original song ‘The Wildlife Show’. The children also designed masks and helped create colourful placards to remind them about the importance of protecting habitats for local wildlife. They were joined by Chair of South Gloucestershire Council Councillor Mike Drew.
He said: “It was fantastic to see the young people’s creativity, passion and enthusiasm for helping to protect our natural habitats here in South Gloucestershire.
The project is funded by £125,000 from the council’s climate action plan budget along with £998,973 sourced from the West of England Combined Authority and £135,000 in grants.