New pond life at local schools

Tuesday 23 June 2015

A team of bank workers and conservationists are hopping around the Island schools putting in some new water features so that children can learn more about local wildlife outside the classroom.

It's a learning experience for the volunteers from HSBC who sponsor the National Trust’s local ‘Hop to It’ project too – they’ve been finding out more about wetland ecosystems and how to look after a pond.

Grouville Primary School’s new pond is going in this weekend and is one of seven being built with some made out of special raised timber for schools that don’t have much green space.

Trinity School’s Headteacher Nicola Turner said: “We are absolutely thrilled with our new pond with the children looking forward to taking advantage of not only the pond, but our whole nature area, which is now much more accessible. This is an invaluable educational resource”

President of the National Trust for Jersey Christopher Harris said: “ We are enormously grateful to HSBC for their continuing support and in particular for helping us to encourage wildlife into the very heart of our Island’s schools. It is absolutely crucial that the natural environment is easily accessible to all and that our children have the opportunity to discover and learn about our local wildlife.

HSBC’s CEO for the Channel Islands and Isle of Man Nick Winsor said: “We are delighted to be able to support the National Trust as one of the Bank’s Community Partners with this initiative. This project provides a helping hand to our native wildlife, and creates an invaluable learning resource that the island's schools will be able to use for many years to come.”