Birmingham and Black Country contain urban areas which, surprisingly, are suffused with little known wildlife havens. This ambitious three-year project aimed to create links between schools and the wildlife sites that are within walking distance. These sites have varied from local nature reserves and other areas of recognised conservation and heritage conservation and heritage value, to small pocket parks – all have the potential to spark interest for wild things in children. Mosely Bog, one of the wildlife sites used, incorporates woodland, bog and ponds which have significant archaeological value and were once the playground of JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. Did he find inspiration here too?

Co-ordinated by an educational project officer and linking into the National Curriculum, the project provided training for teachers through demonstrations, teaching materials and model activities. A wide range of subjects have been covered, from habitat and ecology studies to poetry inspired by visits to nature sites, citizenship studies and willow art.

Teaching packs have been produced that either cover a general theme such as woodland or are tailored towards a specific site. The Soho Loop pack enables teachers to tap into the rich industrial and wildlife heritage of a local canal. The poetic inspiration of children visiting wildlife areas was captured in an anthology, Budding Poets in the Black Country.

The project has been a stunning success, with a total of 62 schools and 11,500 children having had their eyes opened to the environment, wildlife and heritage within their community.