How to attract wildlife into gardens was part of the 'lesson' when pupils from St. Teilo's Roman Catholic Primary School, Tenby, visited Colby Lodge Woodland Gardens.

The schoolchildren are the latest to get 'out and about' as part of the Tir a Môr sustainability project run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Pembrokeshire County Council.

They visited the National Trust's Gardens, near Amroth, recently and came away with lots of ideas on how to encourage wildlife into their gardens.

The school group looked at various habitats such as ponds, woodland areas and meadows which attract different species. They also learned how to introduce a range of habitats even in a small garden, such as leaving pieces of rotting wood which will provide homes for insects and small animals, and growing shrubs which produce berries for birds to feed on. Regular feeding, especially in winter, and providing nest boxes also encouraged birds into gardens.

Through the Tir a Môr project the pupils have been looking at biodiversity in their home town and have been studying both managed and unmanaged pieces of land locally. At the end of their work they will suggest ways in which the biodiversity of their town can be encouraged.

Tir a Môr seeks to support sustainability by helping schools and communities in developing the skills, knowledge and confidence to conduct sustainable education projects. The project is funded by the Environment Development Fund, a scheme created by the Welsh Assembly Government and administered locally by the National Park Authority. Through EDF £750,000 will be invested over three years in sustainable projects in Pembrokeshire.

The science advisory teacher post which is part of the project is funded by the local education authority.

Further information on Tir a Môr is available from Pat Taylor at the National Park Office in Haverfordwest (tel: 01437 771454).