East Huntspill Primary School’s plans to create a new wildlife garden in part of their grounds has received a funding boost this week.
The school’s gardening club, which has helped design the plans with parents, teachers and children, has received £250 from Wessex Water as part of its environmental projects scheme.
The firm’s Jonathan Barker presented the cheque and a Watermark Award to the school on Friday.
An important part of the school’s curriculum is learning from nature and the childrens’ immediate environment.
Therefore, as part of the Forest Schools’ outdoor educational network, they are keen to expand their existing garden of vegetable beds into a wildlife garden complete with a natural pond area.
“The children have been ready to start digging since the council approved our plans,” Angela Fey, a parent governor told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
“Staff and gardening club volunteers have been involved in the decision making on what kind of things we want. We are going to dedicate the wildlife pond area to a great supporter of our school who sadly died.”
“She had an idea of having the children’s footprints on slabs around the school and we hope to incorporate these into the pathway around the pond.”
“We are delighted that Wessex Water is supporting our plans, and what better place to say thanks you then at the school’s celebratory assembly on Valentine’s Day.”
Starting from scratch is not cheap but the school is determined to build their new garden step by step and stage one will be creating the pond area, with its decking for pond dipping and obligatory safety fence around it.
The Watermark Award provides funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area. Now in its 20th year, it has supported over 900 environmental initiatives. Organised by The Conservation Foundation, all projects are judged by a panel chaired by its President, David Bellamy.
