Norwich-based Easton College students revive unloved Great Yarmouth industrial plot into Memorial Woodland

GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK – Students from Norwich-based Easton College have teamed up with a long-standing Great Yarmouth family business to transform an overgrown industrial yard into a thriving haven for wildlife and staff well-being.

Second-year Land, Wildlife, and Horticulture students are partnering with ATI Tank Hire to design and build a 1,100-square-metre Memorial Woodland and Habitat Development Project. The initiative turns an unused, neglected patch of land at ATI’s local yard into a rich biodiversity site and a peaceful retreat for staff.

The project holds a deep personal meaning for the family-run firm. It is dedicated to the memory of ATI’s late owner, Charles Lumsden, who was a passionate advocate for British countryside conservation and hedgerows.

Students have already completed their first site visit to conduct ecological surveys, soil sampling, and habitat mapping. The partnership bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world environmental management, giving Norfolk’s future conservationists vital hands-on industry experience.

Susanne Lumsden, Owner of ATI Tank Hire, said:

'My late husband, Charles, was the David Attenborough of the regional hedgerow world. Every roadside hedge was assessed for its species, maintenance, and whether it was wide enough at the base to support ground-nesting birds.

This memorial garden will benefit wildlife and provide a tranquil retreat for staff. Working in stages with Easton College's brilliant students has made this daunting project a reality.'

Carl Florence, Head of Agriculture, Countryside and Environment at Easton College, said:

'We are incredibly grateful to ATI for giving our students this hands-on, real-world experience. This project offers immense scope for practical learning. 

We are confident our students will deliver a beautifully developed habitat that ATI can be proud of.'