Island Animal Sanctuary Hosts World Water Day Webinar For Thousands Of Pupils

More than 1,400 primary school children from across the South East have taken part in a special World Water Day webinar hosted on the Isle of Wight.

The online session, organised by Southern Water, was broadcast live from Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, with the setting providing a real-life example of sustainable water use in action.

During the webinar, pupils learned about where water comes from, how it moves through the natural water cycle and the importance of saving water to protect future supplies.

The sanctuary showcased its own environmental initiatives, including a rainwater harvesting system that collects water from the café roof to supply the bear enclosure’s pool.

The system allows the site to reuse water elsewhere, helping to reduce costs and support animal welfare.

Chief Executive of the sanctuary, Lawrence Bates, said the approach ensures resources are focused on caring for rescued animals, while also promoting sustainability.

Southern Water has also developed a Sustainable Drainage Scheme (SuDS) trail at the site, designed to demonstrate how rainwater can be managed naturally.

Features include a rainwater curtain, wetland planting areas, permeable pathways and a children’s mud kitchen, all powered by water collected from higher ground and distributed using gravity.

Education Partnerships and Programmes Manager at Southern Water, Kim Twine, said the aim is to help young people understand the value of water and encourage small behavioural changes that can make a big difference in the future.

She added that hosting the session at the sanctuary helped bring the topic to life for pupils, with the added bonus of the bears making an appearance during the live broadcast.