Popular Isle Of Wight Woodland Benefits From Student Support

Students from Isle of Wight College have been learning new skills, whilst helping Wight Nature Fund trustees breathe new life into Mill Copse, a popular public-access woodland, south of Yarmouth.

The students from the Uniformed Public Services course at Isle of Wight College have been volunteering, as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.

Working with the trustees of Wight Nature Fund, the students were taught skills specific to the work, including coppicing, hedge-making using natural materials from the copse and creating wildlife habitats.

This work has enhanced the student’s key skills, including teamwork and leadership, in a practical environment.

The work was made possible through a grant for the hand tools the students used.

The grant was from the DEFRA Farming In Protected Landscapes fund, awarded by the Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly AONB) Partnership.

The volunteering took place over 4 weeks in February and March.

The newly coppiced area has helped create space for natural plant to species to thrive.

This will improve the health and biodiversity of Mill Copse, whilst creating useful coppice products from the woodland.

Vykke Gill, course leader from Isle of Wight College, said:

“Participating in the Mill Copse conservation project has been an extraordinarily rewarding experience, not only for the environment but significantly for our Uniformed Public Services students.

"This project has transcended traditional classroom boundaries, providing our students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the natural world.

"It’s been a practical extension of their Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award efforts, where the principles of leadership, teamwork, and personal development are put into real-world practice."

Grace, 17, was one of the students from the course, and said the opportunity has been a real eye opener, saying:

"We’re all learning different skills whilst we’re out here on the job and learning more about the environment we’re in as well.

"I think that’s a very big part because I’ve never been here [Mill Copse] before, so that’s also developing out environmental awareness skills."

Wight Nature Fund trustee Thomas Cowley was on hand to teach some of the skills and direct the work.

Thomas said:

“The work of the Uniformed Public Services students has been outstanding — the difference it has made to our valuable Ancient woodland is significant.

"They have been super-keen, often working through inclement weather, to help enhance the environment that will improve biodiversity in Mill Copse.

"The coppicing work helps increase the biodiversity in the woodland, it will allow the bluebells in this area to increase in number and allow woodland butterflies to flourish, too."

Coppicing work is an ancient technique, which creates many more hazel stems where the work is done.

This enhances the environment for endangered native species including dormice and the Island’s red squirrels.