Grounds for a Change

Grounds for a Change is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is working with selected schools around the county to increase wildlife in their grounds. 

The project focuses on habitats covered in local Biodiversity Action Plans including pond creation, establishing wild flower grasslands and planting native trees to create woodlands. Children are shown how to make hedgehog homes, insect ‘hotels', bird and bat boxes. Bird feeding areas have also been set up, with children encouraged to study their feathered friends.

In addition to the benefit to wildlife, the project also aims to improve the school environment for children. Bare security fencing is being masked with hedges, flowering shrubs and climbers. Vegetable plots, soft fruit beds and small orchards are being established, so that children can grow and eat their own produce. Willow domes provide a sheltered learning area, a secretive and magical play area, and a great habitat for wildlife! We are encouraging outdoor learning, providing teachers with more opportunities to use their grounds for lessons.

Some of the more unusual projects have included:

• A Victorian Garden at Belmont Primary School in Swadlincote to provide links to their History Curriculum
• A small area of heathland at Hayfield Primary School in High Peak to help children learn about the importance of the surrounding heather moorlands
• At Mortimer Wilson Secondary School in Alfreton art students made a sculpture of a giant Medusa's head to function as a grass snake hibernaculum