Green Light for Watch this Space!
The ‘Watch this Space’ project is now in its second year of funding after a successful pilot year which saw Ulster Wildlife Trust officers, Siobhan Coyle and Lucille Coates, taking local schools based in the north and west of Belfast out to their local parks.
The project is funded by and run in partnership with Belfast City Council and is concerned with increasing community ownership of urban green spaces and in turn, reducing anti-social behaviour.
The pilot project had three main areas of work – educating primary school children in the importance of their park for wildlife, Saturday clubs and community events. Over 1500 children benefited from the scheme last year, helping to open up the world of urban wildlife in their parks.
The schools came out four times during the first year, corresponding with each season. Autumn leaves, winter buds, spring flowers and summer mini-beasts were all observed and activities were developed by the officers to help the pupils gain a thorough understanding of each. The schoolchildren also had the opportunity to plant bulbs and trees.These activities both helped with the biodiversity of the parks and cemented the importance of nature and wildlife in the hearts and minds of the pupils.
Teachers too felt their pupils gained a lot from the sessions and gave encouraging reports back to our staff. As one teacher, from an all boys school commented, “This experience will encourage boys to see themselves as contributors to improving the environment, hence fostering a more positive use of the park for themselves, their friends and their families.”
A fortnightly Saturday club was also set up in each park which was geared towards 7-12 year olds, although slightly younger children were able to attend on the basis that they were accompanied by an adult.
The Saturday club was a great way for children to get hands on action with nature. Each Saturday was different, but no matter what the activity was, or how the weather behaved everybody learned more about wildlife and had fun. Parents too benefited – some got free time for themselves, whilst those who chose to stay with their children had fun making bird feeders and re-kindling their creative side with art and craft activities.
Now that the second year has commenced, more schools are being brought on board using parks such as Victoria, Belmont and Wedderburn, all based in the east and south of Belfast. Additional schools in the west and north of the city are also involved in the project, as are the schools from last year. This year is slightly different though, in that each school is only brought out during the autumn and late spring.
During the winter months, the officers will have a secondary school class visiting Falls Park, Victoria Park and the Waterworks as an additional part of the project. Youth groups will also benefit from this project as they are also set to become involved, putting the parks to further good use. A third Saturday club based in Victoria Park is set to start. This will run monthly, as will the Woodvale Park Saturday Club, with the Falls Park Saturday Club is running fortnightly.
A teacher’s website is also being developed which will contain resources and activities useful for each season.
Lucille and Siobhan are both looking forward to the forthcoming year and are hopeful that the growth in the children’s awareness of the natural environment around them and the positive feedback received from last year and will continue.
For more information about the Watch this Space project, please tel: 028 4483 0282 or email education@ulsterwildlifetrust.org
