Photo caption: Emma Town Education Officer at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Barry Purdon Senior Estates Operative at Orbit, Joshua Hensher Teacher at Westwood Academy, Maya Andrew Estates Apprentice at Orbit, Anna-Marie Rogers Education Officer at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and students from Westwood Academy.
The pollinator friendly ‘pocket park’ at Tanyard Farm, Tile Hill – an Orbit independent living scheme which offers flats and bungalows for people aged 55 and over – will encourage more wildlife to the area for residents and the wider community to enjoy.
Pupils from Westwood Academy visited the pocket park and planted a variety of perennial plants, as well as raspberry canes and bulbs. The students dug planting holes, mixed compost with soil and planted the bulbs.
Afterwards, the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust educated the students on the different plants in the pocket park and how they benefit local wildlife.
As a thank you for their hard work, the students were given a ‘Wildlife Outside Your Window’ booklet and some wildflower seeds to sow. The booklet was created by Orbit for its customers, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trusts and is full of simple ideas and tips to support wildlife to thrive and improve outdoor spaces for everyone.
Simon Lieberman, Senior Placemaking and Partnerships Manager at Orbit, said: “We believe there are small steps we can all take as individuals to welcome wildlife into our local communities. The pocket park at Tanyard Farm will provide an environment for nature to thrive and increase the number of pollinators in the area, including bees and butterflies. Additionally, we hope the project will encourage residents to socialise outdoors, making it a space for people to improve their wellbeing and connect with nature.”
Vicky Dunne, Education Manager at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: “The planting day at Tanyard Farm has been such a great opportunity for the students at Westwood Academy. The session was really hands-on, and the students could see the instant impact of their hard work. It is fantastic that they will be able to visit the Pocket Park again to see the fruits of their labour. Bringing different groups of people together to help create a shared place for nature is a wonderful thing.”
Orbit customers can request a free ‘Wildlife outside your window’ booklet and a packet of wildflower seeds here: www.orbitcustomerhub.org.uk/wildlife.
