SERC’s Woodland project shortlisted in TES FE awards – Well done

​SERC’s Woodland project, which transformed a neglected area of unused woodland into an outdoor classroom at the Bangor Campus, has been shortlisted for the TES FE Award for Best Teaching and Learning Initiative.

The group of Animal Management students, with help from the School of Construction, overhauled the disused area as part of a reinvigoration of three acres of its site – with wild flowers and a new pond to attract insects, birds and small wild animals.

The work was made possible thanks to support from wild flower planting project Grow Wild and funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

The project was shortlisted for the TES FE award because it was imaginative and educational, whilst bringing students across the campus, biodiversity and the community together. The students restored a site meant for a carpark, into a biodiversity garden which is used by many students for their courses in animal management, photography, dance and construction – right in the heart of Bangor.

SERC horticulture tutor Joanne Loane, was delighted. She said “Even to be shortlisted for such a prestigious national award is an incredible achievement and great recognition of the fantastic benefits of the project for the local wildlife and community.”

Thanks to project, the students have brought a new educational resource to the college, improved the local biodiversity and transformed a brilliant space right in the heart of Bangor.

Tutors Joanna Loane and Chris Kernaghan represented SERC at the awards ceremony which took place in London.