Year 5 pupils have been putting their backs into helping in the new ecological area for the Manx Wildlife Trust.

On Monday morning a small class from Bunscoill Rhumsaa headed up to Claughbane plantation, Ramsey, to help plant trees.

The plantation has come far since the project began last year with volunteers visiting the site every Sunday morning to plant trees, wildflower plants and fruit-bearing trees.

Dawn Dickens, the biodiversty education officer for the Manx Wildlife Trust, said: ’They are helping us plant some native trees. We have been felling a lot of the North American conifers, and trying to get more native species in.

’At the moment I’ve got a group who are enjoying some bug hunting. It is a fabulous space. I’ve already had about 100 kids up at the site.

’We’ve done things like bird watching, bug hunting, identifying different species of plants, and showing the kids the fabulous view from the snail fort.

’All of the children I’ve had up here so far just stand and say "wow!" in a way that I’ve never seen children do before.

’And it’s a great place to find mini-beasts and a wonderful spot to talk about food chains and the ecology of an area.’

Andree Dubbeldam, who is the project officer and designer of the Eco-Active zone, is planting hazel trees and some oak as well.

The trust is also planning to create the nature trail over the rest of Claughbane, the Crossags Copicce and Glion Ny Crawe. The project should be finished by 2019.

’The planting is nearly finished now for the year,’ Dawn said.

’Because of the time of year we have to stop the tree planting. Winter is the best time of the year to plant trees, and we’re coming to the end of that now.’

The funding for the project done by the Manx Wildlife Trust is £3,000 so far and will, they hope, keep growing.

In the end the nature trail will take in the million bluebells that were recently planted in Crossags Coppice as well as a large area of a plantation that will be gradually converted to native woodland.

There will be a series of six to eight unique play features over a 2km trail. Plans are yet to be finalised but creative suggestions are welcome.

From 10am on Sunday volunteers head to Ramsey Harpin where they can help build paths and steps.