Twenty-nine Cumbrian youngsters enjoyed an up-close encounter with nature thanks to Paragon Vets in Dalston.

The four-and-five-year-olds, in the reception class at St Michael’s CE Primary School, Dalston, spent an afternoon in the wellbeing garden at Paragon to mark World Environment Day on June 5.

They planted sunflowers they had grown in school and explored the garden, which features a bog and pond, an orchard, hedgehog, bee and insect ‘hotels’, bird feeders, bat boxes, robin hides and a stumpery for fungi and ferns.

Laura Binnie, small animal vet and sustainability lead at Paragon, said: “I gave the children an outdoor lesson on how we can encourage wildlife into our own gardens and why it’s important to look after nature – an early lesson on biodiversity.

“They got to explore the garden to see if they could spot the wildlife habitats we have and they left with a follow-up activity to do at school or home.”

Children from St Michael’s School helped to set up Paragon’s wellbeing garden in 2021 by planting fruit trees. Since then, they have returned every year.

Laura added: “The kids love it because they’re outside and we love it because we get to engage with them and instil in them the importance of looking after nature.

“We’re keen to maintain this relationship with the school and we’re thinking about what we can do with them next year.”

Sustainability and looking after the environment are priorities for Paragon, which aims to become carbon neutral by 2030 and are working towards the highest Green award with Investors in the Environment. 

Part of the wellbeing garden is left to grow wild to encourage wildlife to move in and boost biodiversity. 

Paragon does not use pesticides, fertilisers or weedkillers, compost is made on the premises and the garden is irrigated with rainwater collected from the roof.

Plants are chosen to suit pollinating insects and staff even grow herbs to feed rabbits and guinea pigs being treated by the veterinary practice.

There are similar wellbeing gardens at Paragon’s other branches at Newbiggin near Penrith, Wetheral and Shap. All are used by staff to unwind during breaks.

These efforts have been recognised with a string of awards including ‘national environment champion’ in the Investors in the Environment Awards, ‘green veterinary practice of the year’ in the Veterinary Green Awards and two RHS Cumbria In Bloom awards for the garden at Dalston.

Last year Paragon became the first practice in the UK to be rated as ‘outstanding’ under the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Environmental Sustainability award.

Paragon has small animal, equine, farm and advanced breeding divisions.

Find out more about the practice, and its award-winning environmental initiatives, at https://www.paragonvet.com/about-us/sustainability