SCHOOLCHILDREN have been learning more about the importance of peat bogs through an innovative project.

Arts charity Keighley Creative and the Yorkshire Peat Partnership joined forces for the initiative, which also involved Denton Reserve, above Ilkley.

Pledges to the Landscape saw primary-school-aged youngsters take part in hands-on activities to help them develop their understanding of environmental science, while improving their creative skills.

Year 5 classes at Eastwood, Victoria, Riddlesden St Mary’s, Worth Valley, Holycroft and Merlin Top primaries in Keighley were given their own 'micro peat bogs' to look after.

Naseem Darbey, from Keighley Creative, and Lucy Lee – of the Yorkshire Peat Partnership – ran in-school interactive workshops, where the children studied the bogs and recorded their discoveries and experiences through drawing.

Following the sessions, a well-attended public event was held at Keighley's Cliffe Castle to celebrate and showcase the work.

Naseem then reproduced the drawings on planks, which were used to construct a leaky dam to help with peatland restoration at Denton Reserve.

A team of volunteers, and representatives from the schools, took part in the dam installation work.

Lucy says: "Our stunning peatland landscapes and the wildlife they support are beautiful.

"They’re also a vital tool in combatting climate change, so it’s important that we all understand how valuable bogs are.

"It was heartwarming to see how quickly the pupils came to know and love them."

Naseem says: "The children learned about the importance of the plants and landscapes around them and how their preservation is essential.

"We looked at the past, present and future of these environments so the children could understand how they work, and they documented the peat bogs using drawing materials.

"They created some beautiful artwork."

Nick Bailey, director of Denton Reserve, says: "It’s a privilege to be custodians of one of Yorkshire’s peatlands.

"Restoring this stunning landscape through increasing biodiversity, working on projects that capture carbon and growing more sustainable food is central to our mission.

"We were delighted to be part of this creative community project and to see the children embrace it so wholeheartedly. The artwork on the timber dam is remarkable and we’re thrilled to know it will be submerging itself in the peat here over generations to come."

The project, which received funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s community climate grants programme, has been documented through a film made by Finn Varney. It is available to view on the Keighley Creative YouTube channel.