A PROJECT to harness the energy and knowledge of young people to help combat climate change has taken its first steps in Alcester.
It comes after Alcester Youth Project was awarded a National Lottery climate change grant of just under £10,000 to carry out an environmental education programme on the town’s Abbey Fields site.
To get the scheme rolling youngsters were out and about this Wednesday planting two oak trees on the site.
“What we are intending to do is an environmental education programme for the area around the ruins of the old priory and abbey,” said Susan Juned, chair of Alcester Youth Project.
“One of the primary aims is to get the young people doing surveys into the wildlife and flora of the area and monitoring any changes in it.
“We also plan to work with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and look at the impact of climate change in the local area.”
For the tree planting the youngsters were joined by the Mayor of Alcester, Councillor Kathryn Cargill, and other dignitaries.
“The tree planting is just the start of the programme, we aim to get some benches so the young people have somewhere to base themselves,” said Susan.
“They’ll be working on the edge of the site, not far from the River Arrow, and investigating the changes that are being brought about.”
