Nature Reserve – New Pathway to go Ahead!
As you may have read in earlier BartholoNews, there is plenty of nature to discover around our school site – from intelligent foxes to elegant owls! Our students are always keen to learn about the species, other than humans, who are using the school site or who call it home. Some of our clubs have also been using the iNaturalist app to map biodiversity around the school and share these findings with the National Education Nature Park,
In order to better support this interest in our natural world, St Bart’s has been busy raising funds and preparing the ground for a new walkway to be laid in our Nature Reserve. This fantastic space has, in recent years, been closed for lessons and clubs due to the state of the pathways but we are delighted to say that we now have enough support to start work on completing the new pathway over the Easter holidays. This would not have been possible without the support of some fantastic local companies and organisations including Englefield Charitable Trust, Greenham Trust, Newbury Friends of the Earth, Newbury Town Council, Sewa Day, Veolia Sustainability Fund and West Berkshire Council.
As well as the financial support we have received, there has also been a brilliant effort from our Site team (with particular thanks to Cliff Guthrie!) and St Bart’s students from the Kintsugi Club, Guardians of the Living Realm Club and Friends of the Bee Club who have all been hard at work helping to remove the old rotten pathway in order for work to start. Nothing will be wasted, with the old wood being used for building bat and bird boxes.
We can’t wait to open the space fully once more and we have lots of additional plans to improve and develop the area. There is still lots of work to do but this is a major milestone! If you would like to support this initiative and donate to the project, you can still do so on the Good Exchange. We’d be so grateful for your support.
The Nature Reserve Club is open to students in all years and, particularly as the weather improves!, is a fantastic way to get outside and make a difference. Volunteering at the club can even count towards Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The group meet Mrs Johnstone by the Nature Reserve after school on a Tuesday – come and join us or speak to Mrs Johnstone if you have any questions.
