Mullion Community Primary School in Cornwall, with the support of 'Natural England' and the ‘National Trust’, acquired funding through the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Wildlife Project to extend their wildlife garden sited on the school grounds.

 

The aim was to lightly brand the space, enhance wildlife in the area, develop the understanding and appreciation of the natural world, and provide a space that can be used by the local community as well as the children of the school.

I was the sign writer, and managed the children’s illustrations, which were both used to increase the children's sense of ownership over the space. I also developed the laser cut tree trunk signs for the 6-habitats, which were named by the children. Our choice of materials were chosen so the signs didn’t dominate the space- the wildlife and plants needed to remain the main event whilst still engaging the children.
 

To further encourage the children to identify the wildlife in the space, the illustrations with the name of the animal or plant were burnt into chain-saw cut wooden mushrooms made by chain-saw artist Tom Jeffery from ‘Wild Trees’. One mushroom per habitat. Using a craft iron solderer I burnt the designs into the wood.

 

And finally, to encourage participation we installed a screen printed blackboard near to the main entrance allowing the children to record the wildlife they have seen in the space and notify which ‘Wild Watch Group’ will be looking after the space that week.