STOKE Prior Primary School has boosted biodiversity in its conservation area with the help of a grant from the Kingspan Insulation Community Trust.

The school is surrounded by a garden, wildlife area, outdoor learning and play areas which provide lots of space for children to explore and gain confidence.

The Kingspan Insulation Community Trust awarded the school £6315 to increase the pond depth and replace the lining, as well as supporting the installation of a fence to make a safe play area for when the children aren't pond dipping. The funding also ensured the school could provide additional cover for aquatic species, landscaping, wild meadow plants, and a wood pile bug hotel.

Mr Matt Lewis, the head teacher from the school, commented "Our project to improve the school pond and conservation area ensured we were able to create a more useful teaching space, as well as promoting a wider variety of species and habitats. Prior to the improvements, children could only enter the conservation area when pond dipping took place, so a safe fence around the pond allows children to access the rest of the space for other lessons without the supervision ratios being so high. We were also thrilled to be able to develop an African key hole garden to celebrate our link with Singi'si School in Tanzania."

John Garbutt, chairman of the Kingspan Insulation Community Trust, added "Two of the four key aims of the Community Trust are to support the environment and biodiversity. It's great to see funding go to such exciting projects where children learn about plants, recycling, and reducing waste by exploring outdoor learning spaces."

Anyone within the catchment areas of Wigmore High School, Lady Hawkins' School, Earl Mortimer College in Herefordshire is able to apply for funding from the Kingspan Insulation Community Trust, and there is no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted. All that is asked is that they meet at least one of the trust's four objectives which cover conservation, encouraging biodiversity, health and fitness of young people and road safety.

Application forms and details of other local projects that have already been helped by the trust since it was set up can be viewed on the website kingspaninsulationcommunitytrust.org.