Woodland set to bloom thanks to pupils
Staff at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms have teamed up with the pupils from Stokesay School to begin the introduction of a bluebell wood to the Onny Meadows.
The school was originally involved in planting the trees to make the woodland areas in the Onny Meadows when the centre was opened in 2001 with the centre’s current marketing manager, Jade Marriott-Lodge being among the pupils that were involved.
When it was decided that work would begin to create a bluebell wood to diversify the species and habitats in the meadows, the next generation of pupils at the school were invited to take part. Coppicing began in the area last month and bluebell plants have been transplanted from a nearby thriving woodland.
Centre manager, Grant Wilson, said: “The area of woodland we selected for our bluebell wood has recently been coppiced, which is a traditional way of managing woodland that allows sunlight to reach the woodland floor and provides a niche for species such as bluebells to grow.
"Rather than wait for the bluebells to colonise the woodland naturally, which would take many years, we planted the bulbs to speed up this natural process.
"Whilst it’s unlikely that the bluebells will flower this year, we hope that in future years, our visitors will be able to enjoy one of nature’s great springtime spectacles as they walk through a beautiful bluebell wood. We are really excited about this project and it has been great to have the school involved.”
Entry to the Discovery Centre and Onny Meadows is free but there is a charge for visitors to the Shropshire Hills Through Time exhibition and visit the centre's mammoth.
For further details call 01588 676060 or go to shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
