School awarded £500 of equipment for outdoor area

A school in Garston has been awarded £500 to update its outdoor area.

Staff at Cherry Tree Primary on Berry Avenue seized the opportunity to apply for a Local Schools Nature Grant via Learning Through Landscapes.

With funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery, they share their passion for creating stimulating outdoor learning and play experiences for children and young people.

The bid was put together and the children gave ideas on how they would like the area to be improved. 

One teacher said “We want our outdoor area to be more exciting for the children and to encourage wildlife to make a safe home on our school grounds.” 

One of the children said “Children will behave better outside because there are more options for activities.”

In December the school found out it had been successful and would be receiving £500 worth of outdoor equipment and a training session.

The equipment arrived in January and the excited children opened the boxes to see all the resources.

The RSPB provided items including bird houses, feeders, bird bath, a selection of bird food and binoculars for the children to use when bird spotting.

Mind Stretchers sent a fire lighting kit and activity ideas on how to use this safely in school.

Garden Organic sent seeds for fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers which will be planted in the school’s edible playground.

The children used the equipment when they visited Harebreaks Wood.

They were trying to identify trees with no leaves using their handy guides and also looked for birds using their binoculars.

The teachers have received training on how to use the firelighting equipment safely and they are excited to pass on their newly learnt skills to the children.