On the 17th of March pupils from St. Katharine’s school planted a hedge to encourage an endangered species of dormouse into their spinney of woodland. Every single child from the school planted at least one whip (tree) and many parents from the school community helped on the day.
It seemed impossible, but the children managed to plant an incredible 250 metre hedge in just one day! Sycamore Class were in charge. They had planned the project with Duncan Lee from Ramsbury Estates. Everyone worked really hard and the result was amazing!
Sycamore Class had to present to Duncan their ideas in a Dragon’s Den fashion and they had to do some research about Dormice and their natural habitat. Sycamore also had to write letters to local companies requesting trees and equipment and they had replies from A4 hire and Wessex woodland. Mr Homer – who owns the field where they planted the hedge – is going to put an electric fence in the field so his cattle can’t eat the new plants.
Sycamore Class would like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. In ten years’ time, St. Katharine’s children and their families will be able to come back and see the hedge fully grown, which will be a wonderful memory of their time at the school and hopefully if the project is successful, in encouraging Dormouse populations, a wonderful legacy to the natural world.
By Fitch, Issey, Alfred, Eoin, Oyshi and Eva
Year 5/6 News Crew
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