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Education and publicity School grounds Improving the wildlife and educational value of school grounds is a very effective and lasting way in which we can contribute to our children s development, and the demand for our advice and help continues to grow. One current "showcase" is Roche Primary School, near St Austell, in which the innovations taking place have included the construction of a "froggery" to provide luxury out-of-water accommodation, close to the new pond, for amphibians and other creatures.  A novel method of recycling tyres - mixed with earth,rocks, logs and debris, they form a seven-metre, frog-shaped earthwork providing extra habitat at Roche School. Photo: Mark Nicholson. The Trust's recent School Grounds Appeal raised about £2,000 (many thanks to all who contributed), which we hope will allow us to draw down several thousand pounds in matching funding for each of the four schools successfully applying for our help through the scheme. Covering the four corners of the county, they are Pendeen Primary (near Penzance), Truro Nursery, Upton Cross Primary (near Liskeard) and Bude Infant. The Trust will be exploring other avenues of funding for the many other schools committed to accommodating nature.  Volunteers from Penair School demonstrate the result of their work to local primary school children. Photo: Mark Nicholson Community projects Education isn't just about schools though - we provide a whole range of educational services to the whole community, regardless of age or organisation. We often help local groups to obtain grants and carry out conservation projects, through which the community can become more aware of - and involved in the protection of - its own environment. A team of young volunteers from Penair School in Truro completed an admirable transformation of a site at Trispen earlier this year, bringing a new lease of life to some ponds which were heading for oblivion. These projects don t all have to involve ponds! Our work with Illogan Church (see page 12) is just one example of that. And great fun! Children are always an asset when it comes to publicity work, as in the case of our turtle event on World Oceans Day in June. If TV attention is a mark of an issue s public appeal, our turtle campaign was a winner. Other Trust TV features in the last few months have included the froggery at Roche, the biodiversity report launch and the fossilised log at Praa Sands. Whatever next?! Mark Nicholson  Artist Sarah McCartney (in hat) and helpers build a life-size - over eight feet - model of a leatherback turtle on Towan beach, Newquay. Photo: Mark Nicholson |