A TOWN school has reconstructed its wildlife pond with the community’s support.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Malvern felt it would be an excellent addition to the forest school and could support various aspects of the children’s scientific learning.

It provides an educational resource right on the doorstep and an inspiring way for the children to explore wildlife.

Through various activities, they will have first-hand experience of viewing habitats, food chains and adaptations.

School parent Anife Turchin offered her help having studied landscape design, architecture and management.

Head teacher Therese Langford said: “This is a superb resource. So much thought and care has been taken in the completion of the pond.

“We are incredibly grateful to Anife and all the local businesses who have supported this project.”

Lucy Dobson, a school parent, said: “We are blessed to have a talented parent who willingly volunteers her time and expertise to create a beautiful pond and investigation station for school education.

“Anife’s dedication, ambition and creativity has sourced funding and resources to create a professional wildlife hub.

“Thank you so much to all involved. A cause for celebration!”

Anife contacted several businesses in the area requesting help with materials and services.

One of the first to support the cause was Travis Perkins in Malvern.

Will Burton, a former pupil of St Joseph’s and assistant manager of the Malvern site, was eager to help and offered a tonne of sand, even delivering it for free.

Gravel was also provided by Malvern business Aspect Design. Together, the sand and gravel were used as a substrate over the pond liner that the Newtown Road school had already installed. This left a need for stone to create a much-needed island and natural edge to the pond.

The purpose was to increase the diversity of habitats available and create a nature gateway between the pond and wider environment.

Fortunately, Colston Bakery had recently demolished a Malvern stone wall and were happy to donate all that was required.

The next phase was planting.

Along with many plants donated by parents and staff, wild lilies were provided by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and rare water soldiers from Bredon Hill Academy resulting in a diverse range of fauna enhancing the conditions under which an abundance of wildlife can thrive and flourish.

Daniel Smith, graphic designer at Aspect Design, said: “We are very proud to be a small part of this project which will be a boon for our children and local wildlife for many years to come.”

The benefits are already becoming evident with the presence of newts, diving beetles, damselflies, pond skaters, chasers and many more having already been spotted by the children when they recently used the newly-installed pond dipping station.

It was constructed by Anife out of reclaimed wooden pallets and features identification charts and collection trays.

Teacher Mark Williamson said: “The pond and wildlife that it contains supports the delivery of so much of the science curriculum across the primary phase and enables the children to work scientifically with this living resource.”

The pond will make a perfect home for many types of wildlife in decline.