A group of Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management students at SERC has been awarded £1,500 in grant funding through the Lead the Change Fund, delivered by the Association of Colleges Charitable Trust (AoC Charitable Trust), to support an innovative biodiversity and community engagement project in Downpatrick.
The student-led ReGen Planters Project which involves, Emma Miskelly (21, Comber); Grace Clingen (19, Ballynahinch); Lauren Black (25, Castlewellan); Rose O’Hare (20, Dromara) and Tia Smyth (18, Killinchy), seeks to address pressing environmental challenges including the decline of pollinators, biodiversity loss, soil erosion and increased flood risk. Motivated by the devastating flooding experienced in Downpatrick in 2023, the students have developed a practical and sustainable solution designed to create lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.
The project-based learning (PBL) initiative centres on the young people transforming ordinary planters into vibrant biodiversity hubs using pollinator-friendly plants. Through careful planting and ongoing maintenance, the planters will provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies and other wildlife, while enhancing the local urban landscape in the college grounds.
As part of the initiative, the team have developed a blueprint that can be replicated by communities, schools and organisations wishing to improve biodiversity in their own areas. The blueprint will be shared through an outdoor educational storyboard and through online platforms, helping to educate and inspire others to take action for nature, demonstrating how small actions can contribute to meaningful environmental change.
The students were also awarded an Excellence in Project Work award at SERC’s Student Excellence Awards for Downpatrick Campus in March this year.
Speaking about the project, Emily Morgan, Animal Management Lecturer at SERC said, "We are incredibly proud of our Level 3 Animal Management students. The ReGen Planters Project demonstrates the creativity, commitment and leadership of our students as they tackle real environmental challenges affecting their local community, and the funding will make a positive impact to their project.
"Through PBL, our students are developing practical solutions while gaining invaluable skills in project management, research, teamwork and community engagement. We look forward to seeing the positive impact the project will have for biodiversity in Downpatrick and beyond."
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