Students energized by tour of wildlife sanctuary

SAUGUS – Alex Rinaldi likes carrots, and the Ballard Early Childhood Center student and 105 classmates got a chance to plant vegetable seeds during their visit Thursday to Wheelabrator Saugus? wildlife sanctuary.?Its amazing here, and Wheelabrator has been amazing to the Ballard School,” said Principal Marie Bridges.Wheelabrator?s Route 107 facility dominates the skyline between Revere and Lynn, but the 160-acre Bear Creek sanctuary gave the Ballard students a chance to ride through coastal grasslands and view birds, beehives and toss seeds into a garden plot that Wheelabrator will maintain on Ballard?s behalf.The school and Wheelabrator, a renewable waste fuel business, have a close relationship that includes employees visiting Ballard as elves at Christmas and sanctuary specialists helping Ballard students like 5-year-old Rinaldi learn about nature.?We?ve been part of the community nearly 40 years; it is important for people to see what we do,” said Wheelabrator Vice President James Connolly.Wheelabrator began planting the Bear Creek sanctuary in 1992 and spent more than $2.2 million, according to a company statement, restoring coastal habitats, planting grasslands and making the sanctuary a habitat for a variety of animals.Wheelabrator Environmental Manager Liz Wilson said red-tailed hawks, snowy owls and peregrine falcons live in the sanctuary.?What?s special about this area is that it is in the middle of an urban area,” Wilson said.Saugus resident Stephanie Strout said the sanctuary?s fresh air and open space make it a special place to visit with her daughter, Hannah, and goddaughter, Abby Surette.The sanctuary includes 17,000 trees and nine coastal ecosystems, attracting nearly 200 birds.Ballard teacher and Peabody resident Roni Melisi said she is surprised how many Saugus residents do not know about the sanctuary surrounding Wheelabrator Saugus.?It?s a big landmark, but it is important to understand the wildlife, too,” she said.