Nine-year-old makes art to show importance of wildlife on Balderton Lake

A nine-year-old has created artwork inspired by the wildlife he sees at Balderton Lake.

Nikki Pollard fears the wildlife he loves will be driven away under plans for YMCA Newark and Sherwood to hold kayaking sessions on the lake.

Nikki and his sister Nancy, of Balderton, are home-educated by their mother Samantha Farrell. The family spend much of their time outdoors, learning and taking inspiration from nature.

Samantha said: “We walk around the lake everyday and have since Nikki was in a pushchair. He grew up feeding the ducks.”

While learning about poetry and the art of Henri Matisse and Henri Rousseau, Nikki was inspired to create a piece of work inspired by the lake’s wildlife.

His poem, Henri Heron, is based on one of the birds living at the lake.

“He has names for all the different animals that frequent the lake,” Samantha said.

“It is a real emotional attachment he has to the lake and all the animals there.

“It is one of Nikki’s favourite places to go. I always say, no matter how many times the children visit they are never bored.

“They like to sit and birdwatch and look at all the animals."

The lake has even been the setting for many other educational activities for the children, including learning about bushcraft and soil sampling.

Samantha said both her children were keenly aware of environmental issues, and the increasing lack of undisturbed green space in Newark.

She said they were lucky to have the lake so close to their doorstep.