Member Article

Swanage wildlife gets property upgrade for summer

Birds nesting near a school in Swanage have had a property upgrade this summer, courtesy of Barratt Homes.

The housebuilder has donated a selection of bird boxes to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, which is opposite its new Compass Point development. It’s hoped the move will help encourage wildlife in the area, as well as give the schoolchildren a chance to learn more about birds.

The bird boxes will be placed around the school grounds so pupils can watch birds duck in and out as they nest and bring up their chicks. Barratt Homes has also donated a feeding station and seed mix to give the birds a head-start.

Community liaison manager at Barratt Homes, Anthony Dimmick, said: “There’s nothing quite like real life experience when it comes to learning. It’s our pleasure to donate these bird boxes to St Mary’s Catholic Primary School so that the children can watch their own wildlife show played out right before their eyes.”

Mr Alex White from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School said: “The children are very excited about the bird boxes. We can’t wait to get them put up and start looking out for nesting birds.”

A selection of the bird boxes will also help pupils to develop their art skills. Barratt Homes has bought the school a number of paintable bird boxes, which children will decorate to put their own stamp on them.

Barratt Homes is no stranger to supporting wildlife. It puts in place measures at its developments to support plants and animals and has a partnership with the RSPB, which aims to deliver more wildlife friendly housing across the region.

As part of the collaboration Barratt and the RSPB are working together to boost biodiversity and promote wildlife at its developments across the region, including those in Swanage. Through such initiatives as hedgehog highways, wild bee friendly planting and swift bricks, the aim of the partnership is to help all forms of wildlife and nature on new housing developments.

Barratt Homes plans to work closely with local schools as it works to bring new homes to Swanage through its Compass Point development.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .