Pupils dig deep at Rings End Nature Reserve

Schoolchildren weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when they dug deep to help create a new home for nature at the weekend.

Youngsters from All Saints Primary School in March and their families joined the Friends of Rings End Nature Reserve to plant 100 new trees at the reserve along Twenty Foot Road, Chain Bridge, on Saturday.

The event came just days after the Friends held their first conservation work party of the New Year on January 10.

During the clear-up, around 10 volunteers built a dead hedge in an area they had cleared for the tree planting last month.

The hedge, made of twigs, old wood, cut weeds and scrub, not only created a natural boundary but will provide a habitat for nesting birds and small mammals to live in, such as roe and muntjack deer, which are often seen in the reserve and surrounding farmland.

The friends also erected a number of bird feeders, which were donated by, and will be maintained and topped-up by Robert Phipps, who owns The Pet Shop in March.

The group had hoped to fill in pot holes in the reserve car park on the day, but they were not able to go ahead due to lack of funding.

Mr Phipps donated £50 towards the cost of materials, and it is hoped the work will be completed at the next work party on Sunday, February 14.

The work parties are held every second Sunday of the month at 9.30am, and all people are welcome to join in.