Hereford schoolchildren and new nature reserve on BBC Countryfile

Children from St Thomas Cantilupe School, in Coningsby Street, Hereford, were fortunate enough to be filmed by Countryfile recently, for an episode focusing on the work being done to save Herefordshire's river Wye.

The project, Stories of Change, is funded through an #iwillfund grant via Herefordshire Community Foundation and is an opportunity for the children, who are all in Year 5, to find out more about the pollution of the river Wye.

OTHER NEWS:

• This part of Hereford could be getting a new corner shop and flats
• Asylum seekers at Three Counties Hotel: public meeting being held over concerns
• Learner driver banned after drink-drive crash in Herefordshire town

So far, the children have met campaigners and some of the groups held responsible for the pollution. They have created artwork and started to plan short films for a launch at The Bishop's Palace on June 26.

Countryfile filmed a session where the children met representatives of the Friends of the Upper Wye and a local citizen scientist called Fran.

Presenters Matt Baker, Anita Rani, and Adam Henson will also be meeting a local cider maker turned citizen science champion, and a farmer trying to do his bit to save the river.

The show has also been filming with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.

Some 3,000 hedgerow trees have been planted in the last month as Herefordshire Wildlife Trust prepares to open Oak Tree Farm Nature Reserve to the public later this year.

And the 30-acre Oak Tree Farm, near Hope-under-Dinmore, will feature in the episode.

OTHER NEWS:

• Go-ahead for extension at former pub near Hereford (it now has a coffee shop)
• Hereford is getting two more moss towers to help clean the air
• Hereford events venue wants to stay open until 1am

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s senior conservation projects officer Sarah King said: "We’ve already recorded snipe, polecat and lots of small birds on our wildlife cameras but hope to see other wetland species such as lapwing, curlew and oystercatcher discover the site over the next year.

"This should be an excellent bird-watching site as part of the suite of sites making up the Lugg valley Wetlands.

"We already have one well-place bird hide on site and are fundraising for a second one. These will give visitors fantastic views over the wetland areas – the rest of the site will remain as a wildlife refuge with no public access - and dogs will not be allowed on site. This will make for the best wildlife-watching experience.”

The episode will broadcast on BBC One at 6pm on Sunday, March 19.