Students Help Launch New Wildlife Nature Trail

As part of this year’s Climate Impact Week (2–8 June), St Helens Borough Council proudly unveiled a brand-new Wildlife Nature Trail—a creative and educational initiative designed to raise awareness about the urgent impact of climate change on biodiversity. At the heart of this inspiring project is the incredible artwork of students from Sutton Academy.

In collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and the council’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, Sutton Academy students created a stunning series of illustrations featured on a beautifully designed map of the borough. The map highlights the rich variety of wildlife that calls St Helens home and encourages residents to explore and protect their local environment.

With over 952 hectares of green space, St Helens is a haven for biodiversity. However, with global wildlife populations declining by 69% over the past 40 years, and up to 30% of species at risk of extinction if global temperatures rise beyond 1.5–2.5°C, the need for action has never been more urgent.

Explore the Trail

The Wildlife Nature Trail spans five of the borough’s most beloved parks:

• Taylor Park
• Sankey Valley Park
• Sherdley Park
• Siding Lane Local Nature Reserve
• Clock Face Country Park

Each park features a dedicated noticeboard with the illustrated map and detailed posters explaining how climate change is affecting local wildlife. Visitors can also scan a QR code at each site to access an interactive quiz, designed to educate and engage participants of all ages.

Community Voices

Councillor Tracy Dickinson, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services, praised the students’ contributions:

“The students at Sutton Academy have done such an incredible job illustrating the natural world that's on our doorstep. We're delighted that we can now proudly showcase this work and hope people will enjoy this new addition to our incredible parks and green spaces.

We're thrilled to have young people leading the way in raising awareness about local biodiversity and the very real threat climate change poses to our ecosystems.”

This initiative is part of a wider programme of events coordinated by 2030hub for Climate Impact Week, supporting efforts to reach net zero and build a more resilient, nature-positive future.