Schools across Wiltshire have been recognised for helping wildlife thrive after completing the Wiltshire Biodiversity Champions initiative.
The programme, led by Wiltshire Council and supported by its streetscene contractor idverde, encouraged schools to assess the habitats on their sites, identify opportunities to improve biodiversity and create practical action plans to make their grounds more wildlife friendly.
Pupils took part in a wide range of activities, from litter picking during the Great British Spring Clean to planting wildflowers, creating homes for birds, hedgehogs and pollinators, carrying out wildlife surveys and developing outdoor learning spaces.
At King’s Gate Primary School in Amesbury, pupils identified five priorities to improve biodiversity, including increasing tree cover, restoring a bug hotel, expanding pollinator-friendly planting, creating a herb garden and repairing a bee hotel.
Corsham Regis Primary Academy‘s Eco Council led minibeast hunts, bird surveys and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, while pupils also built a hedgehog house, carried out community litter picks and developed plans for new habitats, bird feeders and additional planting.
Silverwood School in Trowbridge created an ambitious biodiversity action plan to transform an outdoor space into an inclusive environment supporting both wildlife and pupils. The proposals include sensory features, natural habitats and dedicated areas for exploration and outdoor learning, particularly benefiting children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Other participating schools included Fairfield College in Westbury, On Track Education Westbury, The Eaves Learning Centre in Westbury and Kington St Michael CE Primary School near Chippenham. Each developed plans to improve habitats, increase native planting and create more opportunities for outdoor learning.
Debbie Banfield, Provision Lead at Silverwood School, said, “Our pupils have embraced the opportunity to make a positive difference to the environment through our Learning Outside the Classroom curriculum. As part of our values-based approach to education, children have explored the importance of respect, cooperation and perseverance, while being supported to develop ideas that increase biodiversity across our school grounds, despite having limited grassed areas.
“From creating a sensory garden to developing an outdoor reading area, we fully involve our pupils in the planning and development of their environment, making it a purposeful and meaningful experience. Working alongside idverde and Wiltshire Council aligns closely with our vision of building community and inspiring learning. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm our pupils have shown throughout their lessons and look forward to using the equipment donated to further immerse our children in learning outside the classroom.”
On 8 July, participating schools were officially recognised as Wiltshire Biodiversity Champions, receiving certificates and biodiversity resources including wildflower seed mixes, bird boxes, bat boxes, bee boxes, butterfly houses, bug hotels and hedgehog houses to help continue their work.
The wooden wildlife habitats were handcrafted by members of Salisbury Men’s Shed, supporting both local biodiversity and a valuable community initiative.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene, said, “The Wiltshire Biodiversity Champions initiative is a fantastic example of how young people can make a real contribution to nature recovery in Wiltshire.
“Pupils have not only learned about local wildlife and habitats but have also taken practical action to improve biodiversity in their school grounds and communities.
“I would like to congratulate every school that took part. Their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment demonstrate how local action can play an important role in supporting nature recovery across Wiltshire.”
The schools’ biodiversity plans were reviewed by award-winning environmental educator Eco Edd and idverde Biodiversity Manager Tom Bellamy, who praised the creativity and ambition shown by every school.
Wiltshire Council hopes the initiative will inspire even more schools and communities to take positive action for nature across the county.
