University of Leeds students who call themselves the ‘Woodhouse Wetland Warriors’ are working with local schoolchildren to encourage biodiversity.
Ecology and Conservation Biology students Sylvie Allen and Erin Cadley, and English and Film student Sophie Hepworth, help manage the wetland area in Woodhouse Ridge, a woodland park that stretches from Headingley to Meanwood.
As well as clearing invasive species, the group is supporting young people to take part in conservation activities and learn more about the environment.
The students are part of the Conservation Volunteers, a society within Leeds University Union (LUUCV) which has a partnership with Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (WRAG) and Groundwork UK.
WRAG has been keeping the vegetation under control by thinning out self-seeders and developing selected trees and shrubs, clearing litter and maintaining the paths for the past 30 years.
A University of Leeds student helps remove seedlings of the invasive Himalayan balsam.
Erin said: “We have learnt a lot working with WRAG. It brings us together with members of the local community and bridges that gap between students and residents.”
WRAG Chair and Leeds alumni, Ellie Woollerson, said: “Our volunteers are the lifeblood of what we can do for the Ridge, and we really value the assistance offered by the University of Leeds students in making it such a welcoming place to visit.
“Recently the student volunteers have helped clear out invasive species such as Himalayan balsam which thrives on riverbanks and damp areas but is considered problematic because it crowds out other native plants and can cause soil erosion.”
It is now illegal to cause Himalayan balsam to spread. Once it is cleared from the Ridge, the plan is to deepen and dredge the wet area and plant oxygenating plants.
The Woodhouse Ridge Restoration Project is part of the Blue Influencer Scheme, jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and aims to support young people in leading environmental social action projects.
We really enjoy this work. It is complementary to my degree and it is a good mental break from the intense studying we are doing as part of our final year. The children love it.
After securing funding last September, the project worked with pupils from Iveson Primary School in Tinshill, teaching them how to make ‘bug hotels’ from bamboo, sticks and leaves.
“We really enjoy this work,” said Sylvie. “It is complementary to my degree and it is a good mental break from the intense studying we are doing as part of our final year. The children love it.”
A future aim for this project is to get secondary schoolchildren involved in monitoring biodiversity around the pond, for instance surveying bats and using mammal tunnels.
Sophie added: “You don’t need to have the academic knowledge. You just need a passion for it.”
The group was helped with applying for grants by Groundwork UK ambassador Jack Hurrell. The charity supports local communities and businesses to help nature recover.
Further information
If you want to get involved or donate to the project, contact the Conservation Volunteers by email: info@luucv.co.uk or Instagram: @luuconservationvolunteers.
Email Jane Lewis at J.lewis3@leeds.ac.uk or pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk for further information.