STUDENTS at Richard Huish College were stunned to see a sparrow hawk taking a midday bath in their biodiversity pond on the campus.
A motion sensor infra-red camera shows urban foxes regularly using the pond at night, but a sparrow hawk enjoyed a drink and a quick wash in the middle of the day this week.
The biodiversity area was designed by A Level environmental science students and was created by members of the college Earth Science Society in a bid to increase the wildlife of urban areas.
The area contains a small wildflower meadow section designed to attract pollinators such as bees, an insect hotel and a pond and aquatic habitat.
Environmental science course manager, Richard Palmer, said: "Over 90% of the UK population now live in towns and cities and therefore urban areas will play an increasingly important role in maintaining biodiversity in the 21st century.
"By creating even small areas like this habitats can become better linked which is a key principle of Somerset Wildlife Trusts Living Landscapes Initiative."
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