BIRDS, bats and bugs in Essex won’t need to get in a flap when it comes to finding a place to call home thanks to kind donations to a school.

Laindon-based Redrow Homes (Eastern) offered schools near its developments in Basildon and Thundersley bird or bat boxes, bug shelters and wildflower seed packs as part of a ‘give nature a home’ project.

Those who accepted the invitation included Kents Hill Junior Schools, Rayleigh Primary School Academy, Laindon Park Primary School, St Anne Line Catholic Infant and Junior Schools, Noak Bridge Primary School, The Kingswood Primary School and Phoenix Primary School.

Julia Smith, creative curriculum lead at Phoenix Primary School, in Laindon, said: "We couldn’t wait to install the bird boxes and bug hotels, which are being used within nursery and reception to enhance their outdoor areas.

"We’re also developing an area to be part of the Forest Schools initiative and the items we’ve received from Redrow will be a welcome addition to the curriculum delivered there enabling the children to observe creatures in their natural environments.

"The remainder will be used by the older children as part of the science curriculum."

Kerry McCoubrey, sales director for Redrow Homes (Eastern), said: "At Redrow we’re keen to play an active role in the communities in which we build homes and ensuring that we develop responsibly and sustainably is important to us.

"With that in mind we were keen to link with schools local to our St Nicholas Mews and Oaklands Park developments to help children learn about the natural environment."