A SWINDON firm - and an employee with a particular interest - helped students welcome a new species to a college animal centre.

The Animal Centre, at Cirencester Sixth Form College, recently welcomed native white clawed crayfish to the facility and were helped by Swindon aquatics supplier, World Of Water, along with employee Chloe Drewett, who is an animal management student herself.

The firm, based at Blooms Of Bressingham, in Hay Lane, installed equipment which will control conditions for crayfish, which are an endangered species in national decline.

Populations in England and Wales have fallen by more than 50 per cent since 1970.

Animal Centre staff Hayley Lobo and Stephanie Masefield visited Bristol Zoo which has been running a recovery programme for the crayfish since 2009, managing its reintroduction and relocation.

Working with their crayfish aquarist, Hayley and Stephanie arranged for a group of captive-bred crayfish to be cared for at Cirencester, with the future goal being to breed crayfish and contribute to reintroduction projects.

World Of Water site manager Rob Gardner said: “As the UK’s largest aquatic water gardening company we was delighted to be involved in assisting Cirencester College in the protection of this endangered species.

“We would like to wish the students all the best in their breeding programme which hopefully will lead to the reintroduction of the white clawed crayfish back into the wild.”

The crayfish have settled in to their new home and students have been observing as they take refuge in crevices. When startled they can propel themselves through the water with a strong thrust of the tail, flipping them away from danger.

Stephanie said: “We’re very excited to be able to add a native species to our animal collection, and to be able to contribute to a species recovery programme for an endangered British animal will be a fantastic opportunity for all our students.”

Jen Nightingale, the UK Conservation Manager at Bristol Zoological Society, said: “We are delighted that Cirencester College has teamed up with us to help support our crayfish conservation efforts.

"The Bristol Zoological Society’s white-clawed captive breeding and research programme has progressed in the past few years making it an important element of the recovery plan. for this keystone freshwater species.

“With the support of institutions like Cirencester we can work together to help save this endangered species from extinction.”

Level 2, 3 and HND Animal students, Countryside Management students and those studying our Foundation Degree in British Wildlife Conservation will benefit from the new additions.

Visit the college website at www.cirencester.ac.uk or email student.journey@cirencester.ac.uk