A wild time in the garden

Children from the Coalville Residents Associations’ Dreamscheme and Weston Coyney Infant School are installing bird houses and nesting boxes around the estate and the grounds of the school, as part of the £55 million regeneration of their neighbourhood.

The youngsters are playing their part in helping wildlife live successfully in the gardens and open spaces of Weston Heights, formerly the Coalville estate.

Developer Compendium, RENEW North Staffordshire and Sustainability West Midlands are working together to ensure wildlife habitats are protected and improved during rebuilding.

The project provides 72 house martin bird boxes, which will be installed on new, refurbished properties and Riverside managed properties not in the demolition areas. House martins have been nesting in the area for generations, but their nesting grounds risked being lost during the construction work.

As part of the scheme, Compendium is working with the Dreamscheme and local school to inform and engage residents to encourage wildlife in their gardens. The developer and young people are also installing hedgehog, butterfly, ladybird and amphibian houses, a squirrel feeder and nesting boxes.

To tie into the initiative, Weston Coyney Infants School is facilitating nature projects as part of a nature club. The Dreamscheme have carried out a “build your own bird feeder” task and set up wildlife monitoring as a learning experience for the children.

The bio diversity project complements other work to use and enhance North Staffordshire’s green spaces, parks, rivers and canals as part of regeneration.

Hardial Bhogal, director of RENEW North Staffordshire, said: “Much of urban North Staffordshire is close to the countryside or green space. That is good for residents, but it is good for wildlife too. This scheme will help protect and enhance wildlife habitats, improve the local area and encourage sustainability.”

Janet Phillips head teacher from Weston Coyney Infants School, said: “It is important for children to recognise the importance of preserving and encouraging local wildlife in urban areas.

“The children have experienced a richness and diversity of plants, animals, birds and insects and have a better understanding of the natural environment that surrounds them.”

Dave Bullock, director of Compendium, said: “We are delighted to be working with the community and local partners to bring about a transformation that will make Weston Heights a better and greener place to live.

“Wildlife will be encouraged in the natural and managed green areas and will provide essential contact between people and nature.”