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Students change their habitats of a lifetime


Conservation was top of the agenda for student volunteers when fourteen students from the Penrith, Lancaster and Carlisle campuses volunteered as part of a conservation day with the National Trust.


The project at Heathwaite near Arnside Knott on the west coast was designed to help maintain the site and prevent the loss of rare and threatened species such as green-winged orchids, high brown fritillary butterflies, southern wood ants, breeding lesser whitethroat and other song birds.


Cutting, gathering and burning was carried out throughout the day to clear the site, with special care taken to prevent any damage to the land and the habitat. Some material was also moved to be sold as fire wood.


Alan Ferguson, Ranger for Morecambe Bay, from the National Trust said: “Heathwaite is part of a government designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest and we need to maintain the limestone grassland, scrub and woodland habitats. Without this type of management work, natural succession would lead to the entire site becoming covered in trees and we would lose many of these species. We are very grateful to the students for their hard work today.”


Kati Brown, volunteering facilitator for the Students’ Union said: “Everyone was working together as a team and spirits were very high despite the weather and the hard physical work involved.”


Below: Students from the Penrith, Lancaster and Carlisle campuses volunteered as part of a conservation day with the National Trust.


Student and community street reps wanted for neighbourhood project


Students hope to meet their neighbours and make new friends with the help of a ‘Street Reps’ scheme.


The initiative encourages a student rep and a local resident rep from each street to become the main liaison point for street residents, working together to tackle any issues which may arise.


Residents in the streets surrounding the university’s Lancaster campus, particularly those in the John O’Gaunt ward, were invited to meet the students at an open evening on Tuesday 1 November.


The free launch evening provided the opportunity for people to find out more about the scheme, learn about the Students’ Union volunteering work in the community as well as enjoying a raffle and refreshments.


Tom Underwood, Students’ Union Community Sabbatical said: “’Street Reps’ is a new and exciting concept and we want as many people as possible to get on board.


“As part of the project the Students’ Union will have regular meetings with the street reps, to aid progress and offer support. We recognise there are numerous people in the community, students and local residents, who have skills which they can offer to develop others who are involved.”


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