Pupils have helped create a vital habitat for the UK’s largest finch.
Ysgol Llanfair DC pupils recently joined together with Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity Team and the North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) to establish new nature havens across the school ground.
Planned by the NWWT, the collaboration with the pupils saw around 90 metres of mainly hornbeam hedge planted. Hornbeam seeds are the favourite winter food of the Hawfinch, the UK’s largest finch, which is declining at an alarming rate and the hedge will help support local populations.
A small woodland was also planted on the site, alongside 12 fruit tree and a small coppice coop. Altogether the school has welcomed 624 new trees around the outside grounds.
The work has taken place to increase biodiversity and tree canopies across the school to help nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for the youngsters. It has been funded from a UK Government grant.
It also supports the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed). The work has been funded by a UK Government grant.
Iwan Edwards, community & education officer for NWWT, said: “It’s wonderful to see collaborative projects like this come to fruition. Ysgol Llanfair DC started on this journey over a year ago, with the intention of improving their new school grounds and bringing nature closer to their door.
“Everyone has played their part in making it happen, and it’s great to see the Council’s Biodiversity Team now helping the school realise the plans drawn up by pupils under the guidance of NWWT and with the help from the local conservation / action group Llanfair-Fyw. This will enrich the school life and learning of generations of pupils at Ysgol Llanfair DC.”
Ysgol Llanfair DC Headteacher, Geraint Rowe, added: “This project along with others we have been involved with at Ysgol Llanfair have enhance the habitat and biodiversity in our grounds. It is and will be for the future, provide great opportunities to learn and experience the outdoors and a tool to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing the environment, not only for wildlife but also for the school community’s wellbeing.
“The children have thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck-in to planting the trees and hedges and getting a little muddy along the way. It was wonderful working with the Biodiversity Team and the NWWT, showing what progress can be had when we partner up with outside agencies for a common goal. We will all look forward to seeing the habitat mature and the wildlife flourish.”
Denbighshire’s Biodiversity Team are continuing to work with partners and schools to help develop areas on school grounds to support nature and the learning and wellbeing for pupils and staff.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful for the NWWT for designing this fantastic boost for biodiversity at Ysgol Llanfair DC and for the pupils and staff for helping our Biodiversity Team to create this important area for nature’s recovery and for the wellbeing and learning of all the youngsters involved.”
