Building a wildlife garden

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Morning APC,

You maybe able to get further grants from the Biffaward. As well as big grants £5000+ they also provide smaller grants from £250.

See this link

Biffaward - Home

Hope it helps and good luck with the project.

BWD

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by APC

At present, I am certain that the site will need a pond. I have never built a pond before but have been advised that it might need to be childproofed with a fence. I can see the fence taking up the lions share of the cash.

Unless the site is already separated by appropriate fencing from currently child accessible areas, you will need to have the whole area you are working on assessed under the School's H&S policy. I would suggest you talk to both the Staff and Governors before you look at implementing any plans.

Willow screening is highly unlikely to meet the H&S requirements associated with a School - fencing costs are likey to run at many £s per meter. For an example of the kind of grade see Jacksons Fencing - Sentry Without a pond you may get away with far less security - a compromise might be a bog area rather than a pond, but you must resolve these questions with the Governors.

Ponds are indeed a problem for schools, however there is a wider problem with these sorts of projects in that, while funding for the initial work and planting may be available, there may be no provision in the School's budget for longer term maintenance - again this needs discussion with the Head and Governors at an early stage.

My suggestion - start from the principle that whatever you create will need to be largely self sustaining - don't work on people's initial enthusiasm and their promises (including your own) regarding future commitments. There must be thousands of school conservation areas, wildlife gardens etc that have fallen into disuse (creating a serious headache for long suffering Head teachers and Chairs of Governors) because there was no long term management plan to look after them.

CM

[Paul mabbott]

25 ways to get wildlife into your garden - Telegraph

[Cazzie]

There's some good tips on there Paul!

Jez - have a look, you may get more inspiration for your pallet tower

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, don't forget that in many parts of the country ponds will dry out nowadays - is it to be refilled regularly - the cost can be high if the water is metred! I think that ponds are rather over-rated (but they do allow dipping so are encouraged - but a platform for this purpose is essential). Best to go with the geology - if you have a stream or a damp area then use them rather than building something specific (and expensive).

Absolutely agree that you need to produce serious long-term budgets which will often mean getting contractors involved: make sure that they now about maintainence of semi-natural areas - otherwise they'll convert your meadow into a lawn and your scrubland into a herbaceous border. In some ways it's best to plan for minimal intervention - if thick scrub or woodland develops then leave it for the most part - there will be more wildlife if parts of the site are inaccesible!


Good luck

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

Ponds are indeed a problem for schools, however there is a wider problem with these sorts of projects in that, while funding for the initial work and planting may be available, there may be no provision in the School's budget for longer term maintenance - again this needs discussion with the Head and Governors at an early stage.

My suggestion - start from the principle that whatever you create will need to be largely self sustaining - don't work on people's initial enthusiasm and their promises (including your own) regarding future commitments. There must be thousands of school conservation areas, wildlife gardens etc that have fallen into disuse (creating a serious headache for long suffering Head teachers and Chairs of Governors) because there was no long term management plan to look after them.

CM