Barnsley Biodiversity Trust used their grant of almost £30,000 to introduce thousands of children, teachers and parents to the rich tapestry of nature in their own backyard, emphasising the dependency we all have on each other to live in harmony with the environment.

By putting wildlife management plans in place for 18 schools across Barnsley, the area now has numerous fervent protectors of animals, birds and plants who are keen to develop new habitats and discover more about nature.

One of the challenges was fitting the project around the busy curriculum and the different ethos of each school, but the passion of the volunteers and the enthusiasm of the children has ensured that the in-depth survey and report for each school has been carried out meticulously. As a result, each individual area has the best plan for their own environment.

An unexpected bonus for the Trust has been the clamour from surrounding areas to be involved. They have now asked for a year’s extension to the project to include more schools and local communities.

David Allen of the Trust said: “We hope that we have sown the seeds, in many children’s minds, to make them aware of their surroundings and the biodiversity that lives there. We are all dependent on that biodiversity and we must protect it. We are proving that from little acorns, oak trees grow.”