Children put woodland lessons on CD

Leaves and plants were gathered to make the disc

Fifty children from the south Wales Valleys have had their work featured on a special CD-Rom to encourage people to use their local woodland.

The computer software was recorded by children living in Blaenllechau and Ferndale in Rhondda valley.

Making the CD-Rom has been a brilliant way of teaching children about woodlands

Vic Doyle, projects officer

The youngsters, all aged under 10, took photographs and gathered objects found in an organised woodland walk to provide material for the CD-Rom.

They also recorded sounds they could hear in the woods to provide an interactive record of their experiences.

Vic Doyle, the environmental projects officer for Blaenllechau Community Regeneration, helped co-ordinate the venture.

"This is such a good idea because it gives the children a permanent archive of what they did in 2002," he said.

"And it is there for the children to show that they were involved in making something technological.

Different plants and trees were studied by the youngsters

"The children really enjoyed making the CD, they were taken out on walks and asked to collect things they found in the woods and brought them back to make collages out of.

"We also had technicians and sound engineers to help with the project and they were able to make animations out of the things the children had collected," he said.

The CD-Rom made by children from Blaenllechau youth project, Blaenllechau infants and Ferndale's Darran Park Junior School was premiered to local people on Friday.

"Making the CD-Rom has been a brilliant way of teaching children about woodlands but has also given them pride in their community," said Mr Doyle.

"It has been an excellent way of empowering the children and is a brilliant combination of education, art, history and science," he added.

Regeneration

The multi-media recording was part of a £150,000 project funded by Cydcoed - Woods for All.

The money is being used to regenerate the community and make woodlands more accessible for people.

Steve Crosby, a Cydcoed project officer said: "Initially the project will provide work locally, especially for young people who will be involved in environmental and outdoor pursuit.

"Once completed, two new community woodlands will incorporate a section of the National Cycle Route and paths and trails will be reopened," he added.