January
2009
NEWYDDION /
NEWS RELEASE
Pupils garden for wildlife
Pupils of Creunant Primary School, in the Dulais Valley, near Neath, have been getting their hands dirty by helping
to plant a new wildlife sensory garden.
The garden
is the children’s very own ‘chill-out’ zone, offering a calm and tranquil space to relax during a busy school
day.
Pupils are also using it to study
life cycles and animal behaviour close-up.
A camera, which links to the school’s
computers, has been installed in one of the garden’s bird boxes.
Thomas Sadler, a prefect at Creunant Primary School, said: “We want everyone in the school to take care of
the new garden. We have organised litter picks and are encouraging everyone to recycle their lunch box waste.”
The school garden project is part of the Dulais Valley Enhancement
Scheme, which over the past 18 months has run a social enterprise employing a team of gardeners. These gardeners have worked
a day's paid work and a day's voluntary work to improve the grounds of local schools, church yards and other greenspaces
in the area.
The scheme, grant aided by the Countryside
Council for Wales, is being run by the Dulais Valley Partnership.
Stuart Douglas, Dulais Valley Partnership Manager, said: “The school garden project was the first step in getting
people involved with the scheme. It was impressive to see the knowledge and understanding the children had of protecting the
environment and the positive effect this could have on future generations.”
Helen Howells, Countryside Officer for the Countryside Council for Wales, said: “The scheme has received
great support from the local community, especially from the pupils and teachers of Creunant Primary School. The garden project
has given the pupils the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the many benefits of maintaining and enhancing their own
local greenspace.”
