Cumbrian children got a taste of the great outdoors courtesy of Paragon Vets in Dalston.
The 29 youngsters, all aged four or five, from the reception class at St Michael’s CE Primary School, spent an afternoon at Paragon’s wellbeing garden to commemorate World Environment Day (June 5).
While at the garden, the pupils planted sunflowers they had grown at school, and explored the diverse eco-features of the garden, boasting a bog and pond, an orchard, a range of 'hotels' for hedgehogs, bees and insects, bird feeders, bat boxes, robin hides, and a 'stumpery' for fungi and ferns.
Laura Binnie, small animal vet and sustainability leader at Paragon, said: "I gave the children an outdoor lesson on how we can encourage wildlife into our own gardens and why it's important to look after nature – an early lesson on biodiversity.
“They got to explore the garden to see if they could spot the wildlife habitats we have and they left with a follow-up activity to do at school or home.”
This isn't the first time St Michael’s School has been involved with Paragon’s wellbeing garden.
In 2021, the children aided in setting up the garden by planting fruit trees and have returned annually ever since.
Ms Binnie said: "The kids love it because they’re outside and we love it because we get to engage with them and instil in them the importance of looking after nature.
“We’re keen to maintain this relationship with the school and we’re thinking about what we can do with them next year.”
Being advocates of sustainability and environmental conservation, Paragon harbours aspirations to be carbon neutral by 2030 and is working towards the highest Green award with Investors in the Environment.
As part of its eco-friendly initiatives, a section of the wellbeing garden has been left to flourish naturally to invite wildlife and enhance biodiversity.
The company shuns the use of pesticides, fertilisers or weedkillers, creates its own compost and utilises rainwater collected from the roof for irrigation.
Plants in the garden are selected to attract pollinating insects and staff cultivate herbs to feed rabbits and guinea pigs under their care.
Similar wellbeing gardens exist at Paragon’s other branches at Newbiggin near Penrith, Wetheral and Shap.
The environmental efforts have resulted in a string of accolades.
The awards include ‘national environment champion’ in the Investors in the Environment Awards, ‘green veterinary practice of the year’ in the Veterinary Green Awards and two RHS Cumbria In Bloom awards for the garden at Dalston.
Last year, Paragon became the first practice in the UK to have bagged the 'outstanding' rating under the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Environmental Sustainability award.
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