Students and staff at Sherborne Prep School handing the cheque to Dorset Wildlife Trust Picture: Dorset Wildlife Trust

Sherborne school helps protect Dorset’s nature reserves with £5,000 donation

Tait ap EllisDecember 18, 20240 Comment0

A SCHOOL in Sherborne has been thanked by the Dorset Wildlife Trust after the charity was handed a £5,000 cheque to help protect nature reserves across the county.

Students, staff and families at Sherborne Prep School held a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, which were organised by The Friends of Sherborne Prep and the school’s parent association.

These included a lively dog show, two competitive quiz nights, two festive Christmas fairs, and countless cake sales.

Money raised from the events was split between Dorset Wildlife Trust and school initiatives.

Dorset Wildlife Trust launched a Nature Reserves Fund appeal due to rising conservation costs as the charity’s reserves team battles tirelessly across the equivalent of 2,731 football pitches to save species like the hazel dormouse from the brink of extinction in Dorset.

At the time of writing, the charity’s appeal has raised £36,616 of its £100,000 target.

Sherborne Prep welcomed Dorset Wildlife Trust’s fundraising manager, Emma Davies, and fundraising and development officer, Camille Douch, to the school in December to celebrate the success of the fundraising and to talk about the work that the charity does to protect Dorset’s wildlife and wild places.

During the visit, pupils and staff presented a cheque to the trust.

Ms Davies said: “We are so grateful to all the pupils, staff, and families of Sherborne Prep School for their hard work raising money for Dorset Wildlife Trust.

“The money they have raised will be used to protect and restore our nature reserves across Dorset, which are incredibly special places for species and for people.

“It’s been truly heart warming to see a school community so engaged and enthusiastic about wildlife conservation.

“Their support will make a real difference in preserving our beautiful habitats and the species that depend on them.”

To donate to the charity’s appeal, visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust website.