By Isle of Wight Observer
Students from IW College have been learning new skills, whilst helping Wight Nature Fund (WNF) breathe new life into Mill Copse, a popular public-access woodland, south of Yarmouth.
The students, from the Uniformed Public Services course at IW College, were volunteering over four recent weekends as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.
Working with the trustees of WNF, the students were taught skills, including coppicing, hedge-making using natural materials from the copse, and creating wildlife habitats.
The work was made possible through a grant for the hand tools the students used, awarded by the IW National Landscape Partnership.
Vykke Gill, course leader from IW College, said: “This has been an extraordinarily rewarding experience, not only for the environment but significantly for our students. This project has transcended traditional classroom boundaries, providing our students with an unique opportunity to engage directly with the natural world.
“The project has vividly demonstrated that what they do truly makes a difference, enhancing their understanding of environmental stewardship and community responsibility.”
17 year-old Grace was one of the students from the course, and said the opportunity has been a real eye opener. She added: “We’re all learning different skills whilst we’re out here on the job, and learning more about the environment we’re in as well. I think that’s a very big part because I’ve never been here [Mill Copse] before, so that’s also developing our environmental awareness skills.”
WNF trustee, Thomas Cowley, was on hand to teach some of the skills and direct the work.