Nature reserve takes shape

Pupils from the Magnus Church of England School, Newark, are helping to turn an overgrown area into a nature reserve.

They are working at Hawton Holt, off Hawton Road, under the guidance of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s park ranger for Sconce and Devon Park, Mr Peter Dixon.

The 12 pupils, who are working towards a bronze youth award from Asdan, a charity that works for the advancement of education for learners to develop personal and social attributes.

The pupils learnt about health and safety and how to handle tools before clearing a pond and ditches leading to it, and lopping branches.

Mr Dixon said pond-dipping, picnics and flora and fauna surveys were among activities that could take place at Hawton Holt.

Newark Town Council received £20,000 from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Building Better Communities fund to develop the site into a nature reserve and educational resource.

The money was spent on installing a fence to make the site secure, with the remainder split between tidying the site and promotional materials.