Friends of Bevendean Downs (FoBD) applied for funding from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers who were given "Lotto" funds to distribute, so they created the Peoples Places Award Scheme. This scheme was intended to improve areas with potential conservation and amenity value for a community. A definite community benefit had to be proven to acquire funding from the scheme.

Brigitta Richards who is the Chair of FoBD and who also works in Bevendean Nursery School part-time thought that the school wildlife area fitted the bill! So Brigitta applied through FoBD and her application proved successful. A grant of around £7,000 was given to FoBD to improve Bevendean Primary School’s wildlife area.

Money started arriving last August and since then FoBD have spent some of the grant funds on a brushcutter, new shed, tools, a wormery, composting facilities and even a hedgehog house. At the moment a living willow structure is being created as you can see in the accompanying photos. Brigitta has run a wildlife club for the school children since last year and they all have had great fun helping with the willow structure.

Future plans include bird feeders, bird boxes, buying native pond plants and garden plants to attract more wildlife into the garden. Moreover the food interest group plan to use an area of the garden for organic vegetable growing. So all in all there is absolutely loads going on. It is amazing what can be achieved with a small amount of money and a lot of enthusiasm.

Hands on Participation, Enhances School Environment, Linked to School Curriculum, Fun and Exciting: Contact Ganesh Bruce on 01273 511 052 or (mobile) 077 7956 6951 or email ganesh_willow@hotmail.com.