Turning School Grounds Wild
Some schools are changing parts of their grounds in order to create more space for wildlife. Areas that were once cut short every week are being allowed to grow. At first, a patch of long grass may look as (9) ________ nobody is looking after it. In fact, the aim is to provide insects and small animals (10) ________ food and shelter. Teachers can also use the area for lessons, giving pupils a chance to observe species they might not otherwise come (11) ________. In some schools, children help decide (12) ________ of the suggested plants should be added and where paths should go. These projects cost relatively little, and (13) ________ is no need for expensive equipment. Staff still need to keep some routes clear and make sure that harmful plants do not spread. Once a wild area has (14) ________ established, it often requires less regular maintenance than a lawn. The greatest change, however, may be in the way pupils think (15) ________ nature. Instead of seeing it as something distant, they discover that wildlife can exist right on (16) ________ own doorstep.