Wheatfield’s Wild about Nature! Launch Event this Saturday 26th March

The local community around Wheatfield Primary School in Bradley Stoke are being invited to join pupils, staff and parents from 11 am this Saturday, 26th March, to celebrate the launch of a new one year project that will help improve the local environment and enhance the area for wildlife. The project has received a grant of £9,450 from the Big Lottery Fund and £2,500 from the ‘Friends of Wheatfield School .

The Mayor of Bradley Stoke, Cllr Ben Walker, will officially launch the start of the project by sending families off on a special ‘Bike it ride around the Town s local nature reserve. Within the school grounds there will be an opportunity to get involved in a spring time treasure hunt and to build your own bird box and feeder. There s also a chance to sow a sunflower seed and enter the tallest sunflower in Wheatfield’s competition! Refreshments and BBQ will also be available throughout the event.

“Building on our Outdoor Play and Learning Project, our school aims to embark on an exciting journey which will engage pupils, parents and our local community in a range of innovative projects that will see our local environment improved, benefiting wildlife and people’s well being ”; commented Chris Dursley , Headteacher of Wheatfield Primary School. She added, “Starting with a launch event, we will invite local residents to come along and join our year long project, allowing us a unique opportunity to open the doors of our school to local residents to share in planned activities throughout the four seasons! ”

Cllr Ben Walker, Mayor of Bradley Stoke, welcomed the funding and the innovative project that aims to make closer links with local residents and the school. He said “It s wonderful to see our local schools taking an active part in helping to improve our local environment and getting children involved in educating parents on how to ‘green up our gardens is a fantastic idea! ”.

John Morris, local resident and Chairman of a local community allotment, who helped secure the funding said, “The project includes making bird boxes and feeders for the school grounds and people’s gardens, hedge laying and dry stone walling training courses, so local householders can manage native hedges in their own gardens. We’ll also be focusing on a wildlife gardening project, raising people’s awareness of slug pellet free gardens, benefiting hedgehogs and frogs and creating wildflower meadows ”.

The scheme will see the school work with a local conservation group to improve two local ponds, create new benches from carved timber and develop a mini nature trail. There will be activities throughout the year for the school and its wider community to participate in, including a special Apple Day event in October.

For further information on how you can get involved please call Wheatfield School on 01454 868610.

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