Working for Nature
All over the world devoted individuals are doing their bit by volunteering to be involved with wildlife. Jo Price meets a pupil who has drastically transformed her school grounds into a naturefriendly space.
We meet a pupil who has transformed her Shropshire school’s garden
Green areas and wildlife-friendly plants have been introduced to a school in Shropshire thanks to the enthusiasm of 15-year-old Ellie Micklewright. The Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Young School Gardener of the Year 2018 started a Gardening and Environmental Club at Newport Girls’ High School in May 2017 and within a short space of time has created new habitats for nature within her school grounds.
“We’ve already developed a pollinator-friendly bed with buddleia, globe thistle and foxgloves, and we’re looking to develop a wildflower meadow in the recently planted heritage orchard, with cultivars that originate from the local area such as Shropshire prune damson trees,” says Ellie.
The passionate young gardener has galvanised over 40 students, members of staff and parents to create a bee and butterfly garden; a sensory bed containing herbs; put up hanging baskets; build bug houses and birdfeeders; willow-weave three raised beds to grow vegetables in and plant an orchard. “I spent lots of time researching different root stocks so the fruit trees would be a manageable size,” explains Ellie.
As well as researching, planning and designing the gardens herself, the teenager contacted local supermarkets and nurseries for support and raised £1,900 to pay for plants and equipment.
Ellie chooses plants that attract wildlife and has seen an increase in biodiversity as a result: “We planted shrubs with berries to provide food and shelter for birds during the winter and put up nestboxes that we can monitor.” With her encouragement the school has taken part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and hopes to conduct more ecological surveys in the future.
The club has already achieved RHS Level 3 school gardening status (there are five levels) and each week around 15 students meet with Ellie to tend the new gardens and orchard. “This club is really important to improve mental and physical well-being, the school environment and develop young people’s passion for nature, which will help to safeguard wildlife in the future,” she says.
When Ellie’s green team return to school this autumn they’ll be making bat boxes, hedgehog homes and more birdfeeders; clearing an area to plant wildflowers and starting work on their wildlife pond. “We want to attract amphibians and provide a water source for birds and small mammals,” says Ellie. “Gardens can play a big part in helping wildlife.”
This club encourages young people to develop a passion for wildlife. T