Children’s project open day is good to grow

Sep 12 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

AN open day will be held today at a botanic garden to celebrate the achievements of a venture that has involved thousands of North East pupils.

Newcastle University is part of the Open Air Laboratory Network (Opal) project, which is backed by the Big Lottery Fund.

Opal aims to encourage people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment.

Today from 2.30pm at the university’s Moorbank Gardens on Claremont Road, Newcastle, visitors can learn about an Opal project in which more than 1,000 children from the Tanfield area sowed vegetable seeds as a part of a Grow Five venture, supported by County Durham Primary Care Trust.

Also on display will be art work from the Hartlepool Schools’ and South Durham Schools’ Partnership summer schools programme, both of which investigated aspects of environmental awareness.

Saint Cuthbert’ s RC High School in Newcastle took the lead on plant biology master classes at Moorbank.

Another Newcastle Opal scheme has involved volunteers using 1,000 packs to build up a picture of worm numbers, population distribution, and soil quality in the North East.

People can also volunteer for a new Opal project that will monitor air pollution in the region.

Next week in Environment Journal: Newcastle’s pioneering role in the drive to clean up our air.