Pupils go batty over wildlife project

Sam EmanuelPupils at the Open Academy in Norwich have been making special boxes for a thriving population of bats discovered on a construction site.Sam Emanuel

Pupils at the Open Academy in Norwich have been making special boxes for a thriving population of bats discovered on a construction site.

After detailed ecological surveys, recommendations were made to install a number of bat boxes both on the school building and in the surrounding trees, to encourage the Pipistrelles to roost on the site.

Kier Eastern, the regional contractor which worked with the children on the project, is at the school constructing the new �20m school building.

The students were also given a talk on the Pipistrelle by Kepwick Ecological Services ecologist Jane Harris, and were given the chance to have a look at some bats and learn why the contractor is working to ensure their future protection.

Kier Eastern trainee engineer Matthew Sparkes said: 'We thought that inviting the pupils to take part in preparing the bat boxes was a good way of introducing them to their new academy and getting them involved in the project. At the same time they were helping us carry out important conservation work by encouraging the surrounding wildlife to the site.'