26 May 2009
Pupils at Newbridge School are taking part in an innovative project to monitor the effects of climate change.
As part of a special eco week at the school, the students created a 'climate change indicator garden'. The youngsters worked hard to prepare the site by clearing weeds and roots before planting hawthorn, hazel, celandines and primroses, with help from CCBC Countryside Service.
They will now keep a close eye out on the new garden looking for first signs of things happening in nature, such as catkins appearing on hazel bushes, flowers appearing on hawthorn and the first sighting of the red tailed bumble bee. They will then send the dates to 'Natures Calendar' a website, set up by the Woodland Trust, which records these first sighting dates in the natural world for the whole of Britain.
Already it has been noted that Oak leaves on average are coming into leaf 3 weeks earlier than in 1950. The dates sent in by the school children will help provide really important information to Scientists and the government in monitoring the effect of humans on the planet.
In September the Countryside Service will help the school plant snowdrops and bluebells in this special garden.
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