Schools 'tackle concrete jungles'

Pupils from The Charter School, in London, are digging a new green space

Pupils are being asked to protect Britain's wildlife by transforming concrete areas into green spaces.

The Concrete Jungle campaign aims to create more than 300,000 square metres of wildlife habitats in schools, which will be recorded on its website.

Jane Langley, who founded the project, said new gardens would help ensure "wildlife chances" were improved".

The organisation says action needs to be taken as 40% of birds and amphibians are in decline across the world.

'Blank canvas'

The first metre will be dug up in The Charter School, in south-east London.

Head teacher David Sheppard said: "The aim is to give pupils the inspiration and information they will need to transform a blank canvas of clay into a paradise for nature".

Schools can also expand or combine existing gardens that can also be added to a "jungle-o-metre" on the website, which will track the size of the wildlife garden.

The campaign is being run by Cool it Schools, a global environment programme for young people.

'Extinction rate'

Jane Langley, from Cool it Schools, said the project was open to any school in the UK.

"We have estimated even if 5m x 5m are put aside, if every school did that we would end up with 300,000 square metres of space," she said.

"Extinction rates are absolutely shocking and it is imperative wildlife chances are improved."

The project is part of the International Year of Biodiversity, a global project celebrating life on earth, which is run by the United Nations.