Schools in Bradford have been invited to bid for a share of a £150,000 to enable 25 of them to create nature areas.

Habitat Heroes, run by a coalition of the City of Bradford YMCA and the Bradford Community Environment Project (BCEP), aims to allow schools to give pupils a true outdoor education using funding provided by the charitable trust of banking group Abbey which has its northern headquarters in Bradford.

BCEP spokesman Carlton Smith said: "Habitat Heroes is designed to get schools and their community excited about their local environment and to provide a practical learning aid which helps teachers to take their classes outdoors.

"Thanks to funding from Abbey we are now able to extend the programme and offer Bradford schools a chance to benefit over the next three years.

"Schools in the area that would like to take part in the programme can get in contact with the team for more details - it's already proved very popular, so the sooner the better!"

Habitat Heroes was successfully piloted at Lower Fields Primary School in Fenby Avenue, Bradford, which has created its own bio-diversity areas within its extensive grounds featuring a pond.

Thanks in part to the support it received, the school started its own wildlife area this summer featuring a large pond and dipping platform, wildflower meadow, geology trail, food-growing areas and willow bird hides.

Built on an extensive former landfill site equivalent in size to ten football pitches, it already has more species of tree than any other school in the city.

Head teacher John Edwards said: "Our bio-diversity area has provided pupils, teachers and the community with a fantastic resource to learn about the environment and wildlife. Pupils have a lot of fun with the area, in particular the food-growing areas.

"The area is also a great learning aid for children as they can see, touch, smell and sometimes even eat the results."

Parental and community involvement worker Trish Harwood said: "Every child should have the chance to learn in new and exciting ways in environments that inspire and encourage their ideas beyond the normal school provision. I think we are going a long way towards ensuring this happens at our school."

Alan Eagle, manager of Abbey's charitable trust, said: "Habitat Heroes is an innovative project which provides a lasting resource for both schools and their community. Educating people of all ages about the environment is an important issue for Abbey so we're very pleased to contribute to a project that will make such a difference to the local community."

Schools interested in taking part in the programme should contact the Habitat Heroes team at BCEP on (01274) 223236 or e-mail: info@bcep.org.uk.

e-mail: dan.webber @bradford.newsquest.co.uk