Brigg Schools Hedgerow
Project
In the words of one of our retired Town Councillors, a well respected ‘elder
statesman’ of Brigg:
“How does a hedgerow become
historic,
if it is uprooted before it reaches the required age?”
START OF THE PROJECT
The initial idea came from the Council for the Protection of Rural
England (CPRE) campaign to survey England’s hedgerows. Two
Brigg Town councillors went to a local CPRE Hedgerow Day and as
a result the Town Council decided it must take action to try to
identify and protect our own historic hedgerows.
It was clear to members that the key factor is to educate the
community about the importance of hedgerows. They decided to include
the local schools in an ambitious project:
- to identify all of the remaining hedgerows in the Parish
of Brigg;
- to carry out surveys to find what species of plants and
animals live in them;
- to rediscover their history.
They also agreed to look at sites where hedgerows have already
been lost, and to consider replacing them.
WHO TOOK PART
The Town Council was delighted at the response it received. Brigg
Preparatory School, the Vale of Ancholme School (now Technology
College) and Sir John Nelthorpe School took part in the first year.
The schools were given a ‘working brief’, and in July
2000 the first exhibition of pupils’ findings was presented
in the Angel Courtyard.
Independent judges were invited to consider the work the pupils
had produced. Although there was no doubt that all of the schools,
which took part, were winners, the judges gave a special award
for the most interesting and informative presentation.
In the year 2000, this award went to Sir John Nelthorpe School,
who subsequently entered their project for other environmental
awards, achieving even more success.
THE FUTURE
All the information about hedgerows collected by Brigg schools
has been entered into a data base which will be presented to the
North Lincolnshire Council. This will provide their Environment
Team with a useful tool in the planning process by highlighting
potential threats to our hedges.
The Town Council will continue to lobby for increased protection
for hedgerows. We hope that other Town and Parish Councils will
look at this pioneering idea and launch their own Hedgerow Research
Projects.
Brigg Town Council would like to thank everyone who has been involved
in the Hedgerow Project; in particular Mark Tyszka for his invaluable
guidance and assistance; the staff and pupils from the three schools
for their enthusiasm and innovative ideas; the judges who have
given their time to visit the exhibition and consider the projects
submitted, and not least of all the sponsors.
Sponsored by:
Brigg Town Council
Bemis Packaging Ltd at Elsham Wold
North Lincolnshire Council, Environment Team.
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