A PROJECT to restore a stream in a Slough park burst into life as schoolchildren released fish into the water.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), together with Slough Borough Council (SBC) Thames Water and the Environment Agency, have launched a project to restore Salt Hill Stream in Salt Hill Park.

The project aims to improve the design of the area, to improve the habitat for animals, making it a more pleasant and attractive spot for visitors and ensuring that the water quality is improved.

Children from St Mary’s Primary School were joined by television wildlife expert, David Lindo, in releasing the first fish back into the stream on Wednesday.

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Andy Graham, head of community at WWT, said: “We’ve had a brilliant response from local people already. We’ve got businesses and schools on board and we’re working with community centres to create beautiful gardens that catch all the rain that falls on the roof.

“Each little spot of wildness we create together will look beautiful when it’s in full bloom. Combined, they act to percolate the rain that falls on the town and steady the flow of the stream, which will really help the people and wildlife that live around it by reducing pollution, flooding and drought.”

Thames Water is providing £150,000 of funding for the project and its external affairs director, Richard Aylard, was at the launch and said it was a “fantastic scheme”. The Environment Agency CEO Sir James Bevan added it would “achieve real results for the environment”.

The project will involve the community in designing and creating new areas of wild habitat, which are set to be created this winter.

Anyone from the area who’d like To be involved with the project should contact andy.graham@wwt.org.uk.

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