The Sizewell C comms team brings you news, updates, blogs and information on the Sizewell C project.
New nature walk in Leiston opened by local students
By Marjorie Barnes | Published on 14 July 2022 | 3 min read
A group of Year 9 pupils from a Suffolk school have joined Sizewell C to launch a new nature walk, the ‘Alde Valley Academy Nature Trail’ at Aldhurst Farm in Leiston.
The ‘Green Guardians’ from the school visited the Aldhurst Farm site to support their schoolwork on biodiversity, habitat conservation and the role of charities in conservation work and whilst there were able to launch the new nature trail.
Students took part in some of the current re-wilding projects underway at the farm, including creating heathland, while hearing more about future plans to support the site’s biodiversity whilst on a nature trail using a new map of the site detailing the latest species found in the habitat.
The 67 Hectare site has been re-wilded and developed as part of a £5million project to create habitats for a variety of species including marsh harrier, water voles, otters, eels, amphibians, reptiles and birds, as well as rare plants.
The new map and educational handouts on the environment have been designed to support schools with the curriculum which they can bring to life on their visit to Aldhurst Farm.
It is hoped the trail will also prove popular with families looking for local activities over the summer holidays. The walk was launched with the help of students from Alde Valley Academy in Leiston and Dr Stephen Mannings and Graham Hinton, who have both been involved in the site since the start.
Dr Stephen Mannings, Consents Manager, said;
“We are delighted to welcome the Green Guardian from Alde Valley Academy, to launch our new nature walk here at Aldhurst Farm and take part in some important ecological management activities.
This habitat creation is a very special place which former students from the school helped us create by planting some of our first reedbeds that have flourished and are now home to nesting marsh harriers. We hope that the local community will enjoy visiting Aldhurst Farm.”
Dan Mayhew, Head teacher of Alde Valley Academy, said;
“Aldhurst Farm presents a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to study biodiversity, conservation and ecology in a thriving environment right here in Leiston. As we prepare our students for an ever-changing world it is vital that they understand the fundamentals of caring for the natural environment.”
Following six years of maturity, Aldhurst Farm in Leiston is open throughout the year and accessible to all for quiet public recreation and school visits can be co-ordinated to support elements of the curriculum.
For further information about Aldhurst Farm, school visits or the Sizewell C project, visit the Sizewell C information office in Leiston on weekdays, call 0800 197 6102 or email Info@sizewellc.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Contact Details:
Suffolk journalists: Marjorie Barnes, Senior Communications Manager
marjorie.barnes@sizewellc.com
m: 07515 295488
Tagged with:
Education, Nature, Rewilding, Wild Aldhurst
Posted by Marjorie Barnes