We are excited to announce that Blackrod Primary School, working in partnership with BYB@BLACKROD, has been awarded by The Greater Manchester Environmental Fund, which helps to improve the environment in green and innovative ways. This pioneering fund was created in partnership with The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and The Greater Manchester Combined Authority to bring together communities and funding bodies keen to channel their resources into addressing environmental problems.

BYB@BLACKROD are keen to work with Blackrod Primary School to improve their beautiful forest and pond area to transform what is currently an unsafe, disused pond area and woodland into a safe, child-friendly pond dipping area and wildlife nature trail for children in the local community.

The trail will extend from the woodland edge to the pond, featuring nature stations, log benches, weather stations, bird screens, and bug and bat boxes.

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside will redevelop the area, removing large branches to increase sunlight, clearing vegetation, sediment and leaf litter. They will improve the pond edges for animal access and will be secured by a 1.2m picket fence and a new gate for the safety of our children.

Once established, BYB@Blackrod and Lancashire Wildlife Trust will work together to coordinate activities to engage with the community outside of School time. The Wildlife Trust will deliver ten children’s workshops complemented by an intensive four-day summer programme in 2025 and 2026. Children will have the opportunity to learn about nature, make bat boxes, bug hotels, plant pond plants, and create nature hedgerows and wildflower meadows.

We can’t wait for the work to commence, which is scheduled for April 2025 – we will post photos to update everyone on the progress of the project!