Conservation project turns the city wild

An Exeter-based conservation project has spent the winter months working with local communities to produce a greener city.

Exeter Wild City, a joint project between Devon Wildlife Trust and Exeter City Council, has had a busy winter preparing for the approaching spring.  In the last few months more than thousand local people have helped to plant over 1,000 trees, create 10 orchards and plant 10 new wildflower meadows. 

The work promises to provide new colour in some of Exeter’s green spaces. It is also establishing new sources of natural food for important pollinators such as bumblebees and butterflies, and providing shelter and food for hedgehogs, birds, bats and frogs.

Emily Stallworthy, Conservation Officer at Devon Wildlife Trust, has been working closely with Exeter school pupils, University students, resident groups, city businesses and communities to help enhance the city’s green spaces for wildlife. 

“City wildlife is often more unusual and unexpected than you might think possible in an urban environment,” said Emily. 

“To help wildlife, the Exeter Wild City project has spent the winter working with local people to develop wildlife corridors through the city and to create new habitat stepping stones for wildlife to use.  New wildflower meadows, orchards, hedges and woodland have been planted to provide important food and shelter for the animals we share our city with.”

Clyst Heath Nursery & Community Primary School is one of the many schools to have worked with Devon Wildlife Trust. The school now has its own brand new orchard with over 30 fruit trees planted by its pupils. 

Kate White, a teacher at the school, said: “We are really excited that every child within the school has been able to plant a tree.  It’s a great way for pupils to connect with wildlife in the city and understand how important trees are to our everyday lives.  Part of the outdoor space belonging to our school’s Foundation years unit has been transformed into a new orchard which will provide a place for children to play, learn and eat for many years.”

Pupils from Bowhill Primary School helped to prepare and sow a new wildflower meadow at Cowick Barton Playing Field in the city.  Head teacher Caren Brooks said: “Pupils at Bowhill were really enthusiastic about sowing a wildflower meadow at Cowick Barton as it’s a way for them to make a real difference for wildlife in their local area.  There are a lot of children at the school who are interested in nature and wildlife so it’s always great to work with Devon Wildlife Trust and get involved in practical tasks.”

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Emily Stallworthy summed up a winter’s worth of wildlife work: “It’s been wonderful working with so many enthusiastic people on this project.  We’re planning on planting more trees in autumn 2014 as part of the Big Tree Plant Project.  Planting a variety of trees and habitats that exist alongside our living, working, learning and recreational surroundings is really important for our own health and wellbeing as well as wildlife.  None of the works this winter would have taken place without generous support from our project funders – The Big Lottery Fund, Defra, American Forests and the Alcoa Foundation.”