A NEW project to encourage children to work with communities to explore the wildlife and biodiversity of their parish has been officially launched at Feckenham First School.

The project, which started yesterday, is being funded through the Arts Council UK and Worcestershire County Council.

Three other schools in the Forest of Feckenham area of east Worcestershire are also taking part.

The project will see four artists and a storyteller working with the schools towards making four parish maps which will reflect some of the knowledge, feelings and priorities of local people.

The documents will particularly look at the relationship between people and wildlife in the four parishes.

County council spokesman Rupert Brakspear said: "This project focuses on the stories and experiences of local people, including those of the children themselves.

"By talking to people we can get a real feel about the places they live, work and play and how they interact with and value their natural environment."

The project has been designed to build upon the ongoing Vision Mapping Project co-ordinated by Worcestershire Biodiversity Partnership which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Both projects are new to the county and aim to create a range of opportunities to bring people in parishes like Feckenham together around the theme of local diversity.