Children join Packham rewilding during half-term

Children spent a day of their half-term holiday helping with a rewilding project in west Devon alongside special guest naturalist Chris Packham.

The aim for the pupils of East Allington Primary School was to get them interested in the world around them with first-hand experience of their environment.

The site at Downicary used to be a sheep field but now has about 20 ponds and 3,500 new trees, which have been planted to increase biodiversity.

Packham said: "Nothing beats touching it, smelling it, hearing it, kneeling down in the mud. That is far more likely to light a spark that will last a lifetime and fuel that fascination with the natural world."

The trees the children planted were willow, alder, and aspen varieties, which would attract insect life and help prevent further bank erosion along the river, according to rewilder Derek Gow who was also there to advise.

The pupils described the day as: "Fun," "Exciting" and "Muddy."

Former head teacher Tom Pether, who helped organise the event, said he could see the day was doing the children good.

He said: "You can tell it in their body language; they're animated, they're talking to each other, and they're totally focused on the job because it's so fulfilling."

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