CHILDREN at Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School have been learning about their local landscape and wildlife with staff at Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Claire Green, who works for the trust’s Meadow Life project, visited the school to teach children in Years One and Two about life cycles in plants by dressing up their teacher as a flower – and then taking the classes outside to sow wild meadow seed in trays.

Claire said: “We had a great afternoon and the children really enjoyed it! Upland hay meadows are now sadly rare in Cumbria but our project hopes to reverse this so that these children will still be able to see them here when they grow up.”

Funded by the Heritage Lottery fund, Cumbria Wildlife Trust is working with farmers and small holders to enhance, restore and manage flower-rich hay meadows in the area, using traditional practices to increase plant diversity.

The local wildlife charity is also promoting the landscape of hay meadows through events, educational workshops, walks and talks.