Wildlife Garden

At the start of 2011 the Deputy Head teacher of Runwell Community Primary School attended her local Parish Council meeting, and heard a presentation about Living Landscapes by staff from both Essex Wildlife Trust and Essex and Suffolk Water (one our partners on the scheme).  Afterwards, she approached them to see if her school could become involved and her details were passed onto Gayle Dyer, Indicator Lead for the Hanningfield Reservoir and Woods Living Landscape as the school was within this area.  

After meeting with the school and discussing the ways in which we could work together (be it on teaching within the curriculum, carrying out practical work or surveying species) it was decided that the schools wildlife area would benefit from a revamp and through this the children would be contributing to conserving wildlife in their area whilst gaining a better understanding of what Living Landscapes is all about. 

The wildlife area was overgrown and though attempts had been made to tame and improve it for wildlife, the school needed some help.  Gayle and Rosalind Atienza (from Essex & Suffolk Water) visited the school and the Wildlife Garden project began! Works were carried out to incorporate features that could both be useful to the school for education purposes but also for specific wildlife in the area. As Hedgehogs are currently declining across their range Gayle and Rosalind suggested that they become the schools main focus for wildlife (a Living Landscape Species) by creating varied habitats for them to live and forage in.  As a result of this the school have sent off for packs from The People’s Trust for Endangered Species who are running a project called ‘Hedgehog Street’ which encourages groups, schools and individuals to become ‘Hedgehog Champions.’  

The works started with a clearance of the site in which 30 parents and pupils were involved and after an afternoons hard work this was completed. To follow this up, in September  Carolyn Mallott (Education Officer at Hanningfield) and Susan Allen (EWT Schools Outreach Officer)  worked with pupils to plan the area, complete with willow dome, wildflowers, compost heap, log piles, stag beetle pyramid and minibeast hotel.  The community are further getting involved by donating items for the garden and helping to create paths and plant beds so that both wildlife and the pupils can enjoy the area.  Essex Biodiversity Project are also involved in the project through helping to create an orchard on the school grounds and all of these projects have aided the local economy as materials and plants were bought from local sources.  

The project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2012 with multiple new habitats being created to benefit wildlife in this important Living Landscape area.  This is a great example of a partnership project, drawing together the expertise from a variety of partners within the Hanningfield Living Landscape and beyond.  Living Landscapes is giving us the opportunity to form partnerships and also for different departments within the Trust to work together. There are always opportunities for others to get involved so if you would like to help us with our Living Landscapes Vision then please visit our website or contact the Living Landscapes Coordinator Adam Taylor email: adamt@essexwt.org.uk or telephobne 07725 604 071 to see how you, your company, community group, school or any other group could get involved in benefitting wildlife, the community and the local economy. By working together we can make a difference – let’s start today!