Countryside Management students at Bridgwater College were recently invited by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to help with aquatic planting along the banks of the waterways as part of the development of the new reserve at Steart Marshes.

The group worked alongside a group from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Biodiversity group to plant more than 1,000 native wild plants both along the banks and in the water. Over the next few years, it is hoped that these plants will establish new colonies throughout the reserve.

The planting is just one aspect of the new relationship between Bridgwater College and WWT. The continued development of the partnership will result in increased student activity on the reserve over the coming years as it matures for the future.

Nigel Cox, Programme Manager for Countryside Management at Bridgwater College said,

“An important part of our countryside courses is the focus on giving students real tasks in specific environments to enable them to develop their skills. It also helps them to understand the process of working with others to achieve a shared goal. As a College we are delighted to be working with such an important organisation as WWT in the development of the reserve.”

Alys Laver, from the WWT added,

“It’s an exciting opportunity to get Bridgwater College involved with ongoing projects and management at Steart Marshes. The students’ enthusiasm and willingness to get involved was fantastic and we are looking forward to future projects that will not only help us, but feed into their curriculum.”