Hassocks pupils create pouches to help animals injured in Australian wildfires

Following the news that more than one billion animals have been lost to the Australian wildfires, Downland Community School students have been contributing to efforts to save baby kangaroos by creating pouches used to keep the animals safe.

The youngsters took up the task in answer to a call from the Animal Rescue Craft Guild, spending their lunchtime with staff Mrs Moller and Mrs Grala to create joey pouches from donated sheets and materials.

Downland Community School received a large donation of arts and crafts materials from a local resident about two years ago, which have now been put to good use as the pupils cut, ironed, sewed, and constructed the pouches.

Now on their way to Australia via Gatwick Airport, the pouches will be used to help some of the orphaned and injured joeys.