Children from six primary schools across Rhondda Cynon Taff worked together with local experts and a storywriter to pen the tale of a tortoise named Lula, who has a close brush with wildfire on her quest to find warmth.
The Arson Reduction Team at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), alongside partners and experts from organisations including Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and South Wales Police (SWP), helped bring to life this children’s book highlighting how severely the environment can be damaged by wildfire. It is hoped that the book will be used as an educational tool by local authorities, emergency services, and other schools, to teach children about the dangers of fire.
The story follows a tortoise named Lula who, tempted by a friendly flame in the woods, lights the end of a twig to keep warm – freeing the flame from its stone circle. Lula is soon accosted by an angry badger, who scolds her for her naivety:
“Do you have any idea what fire can do to these woods? It only takes one spark, you know.”
The fire quickly becomes out of control, and the animals within the forest are forced to run for their lives.
Fire services across Wales tackle countless deliberate grass fires year on year, particularly during the spring season; caused by a mixture of anti-social behaviour, householders burning refuse waste, and farmers and landowners burning grassland outside the permitted winter burn dates.
Mike Hill, Station Manager – Arson Reduction Team – originally conceived the idea to for the book, and oversaw the running of the project, which spanned eight weekly creative sessions with all 24 children, and the writer, Mike Church, of Petra Publishing.
Mike Hill said:
“Our aim is to reduce the uncontrolled environmental destruction and potential threat to lives and property arising from deliberately set grass fires.
“We hand-picked six different primary schools in the Rhondda, and four children from each school were nominated to join the project. We chose Rhondda Cynon Taff as it is one of the worst affected areas when it comes to deliberate fire setting.
“We are very proud of the book, and hope it has a lasting effect on the schools and the communities of Rhondda Cynon Taff.”
A spokesperson from Petra Publishing added:
“It has been a pleasure for the Petra team to work alongside the experts and children to write ‘Lula and the Flame.’
“Credit has to be given to Mike Hill and his team for executing the project so well, with all deadlines met on time.”
On 19th-21st March, the book was presented at the six schools attended by the children involved in the project, during the period which usually marks the beginning of wildfire season in South Wales. Members of the partnership organisations will also be in attendance at the presentation sessions to show their support.
SWFRS thanks Mike Church, the writer who brought the story to life, the children involved in the project for their creativity, and helping to spread awareness on the dangers of anti-social behaviour and deliberate fire setting, and Andy O’Rourke – for the illustrations which brought the story to life.
