Students take first prize for work in woodland
May 20 2008 by Karen Wilson, The Journal
A PROJECT run by students in Newcastle to benefit young people in the area has had its efforts rewarded with a major conservation accolade.
SCAN (Student Community Action Newcastle), a registered charity, established in 1973, works to provide high-quality voluntary projects in the local community as well as encouraging students to work with other voluntary, community and charitable organisations.
The Rupert’s Wood Project which operates in Northumberland has scooped first prize in the Community Category of Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s 2008 Conservation Awards which were sponsored by npower. It is named after Lord Rupert Redesdale, SCAN patron and the owner of the woodland in which the conservation work takes place.
The project works with disadvantaged young people from urban settings in a rural environment to encourage in them an appreciation and awareness of the environment and nature.
It is run by a number of volunteers including graduates of Newcastle University, former SCAN volunteers and current SCAN volunteers.
Last spring volunteers ran a series of unique environmental activities in Rupert’s Wood, including conservation tasks with 35 young people from the Blyth Valley. In addition, 26 young people from Kenton High School, nine from Benwell, 12 from Walker, 11 from Pendower and 18 from Elswick, all Newcastle, also visited Rupert’s Wood as part of the project. Tasks undertaken throughout the course of 2007 included tree planting, ditch digging, pond dipping and bat and bird box building.
The volunteers running the groups are planning new work for different groups in Newcastle and are also exploring the possibility of expeditions and city-based workshops.
Handing over a commemorative trophy, certificate and wildlife gift pack worth £100, Reay Charlton, head of operations and development group at npower said: “I am delighted to be handing over this highly-deserving award on behalf of Northumberland Wildlife Trust to SCAN for its Rupert’s Wood project.
“Npower has thousands of customers in the area, and we know that improving and protecting the environment is very important to them.
“Supporting the trust’s conservation awards represents an excellent way of demonstrating our commitment to conserving and enhancing the region’s countryside.”
Tasks included tree planting, ditch digging, pond dipping and bat and bird box building
