The grounds of Chineham Park Primary School have been transformed into a purpose built outdoor learning facility for Basingstoke school pupils and local community, thanks to support from National Grid.
The school’s Environment Project aims to increase children’s awareness of healthy outdoor activities and provide a hands-on approach to learning about the environment. The facilities on offer include:
- an outdoor classroom set under a sprawling beech tree with logs for seats
- raised gardens for growing vegetables and herbs
- a mountain bike trail in a 1/3 acre of cleared scrubland
- a nature trail for hunting for bugs
- a raised pond with vegetation and fish
- accessible wood piles which encourage a diverse range of habitats
National Grid teamed up with the school last year when it was looking to relocate equipment from the environment centre formerly based at its substation in nearby Bramley.
Opening the facility on Friday 30 June, Chineham Park Primary School headteacher, Gwen Clifford, said: “The Outdoor Learning Environment will open 48 weeks of the year, and attract families and community groups to learn together about the environment and healthy lifestyles.
“Over 30% of the families at the school have no access to a car so this is an ideal way of bringing the diverse environment of Bramley Frith into Popley.”
National Grid project manager, Paul Doran, was so impressed with the school’s ambitious plans to develop first class facilities for pupils and a community who hadn’t had access to outdoor learning initiatives, that he also arranged for the installation of the environment centre building and development works to the school’s grounds.
He said: “Following the closure of the former environment education centre at Bramley Frith, National Grid has been working closely with Hampshire County Council to ensure local children can continue to enjoy the benefits of outdoor learning.
“We are excited about the developments that have taken place at Chineham Park Primary School and are delighted to have been able to contribute to the project which will add so much to the community.”
In her speech at the opening ceremony, Cllr Elaine Still, said: “The children and the local community have been so involved in this project from the planting of the first vegetable plots to the fantastic learning resource that we see here today.
“I am not surprised that National Grid have rewarded this enthusiasm by relocating its outdoor learning facility here and generously donating funds to complete the project.”
Cllr Jane Frankum, Labour spokesperson for education in Hampshire added: “This resource will be a fantastic asset not only to the children at the school but for all residents in Popley and beyond. It is brilliant that National Grid is supporting education in the young, especially in such a deserving school.
PC Dan Carter, Community Beat Officer for Popley, praised Mrs Clifford for her efforts to improve Chineham Park Primary School for the benefit of the community. He said: “Gwen is doing a great job to make the community a better place. She has shown great determination to complete the Environment Project and her work will be of value to all of Popley.”
-Ends-
For further information, please contact: Jenny Lockyer on 01179073404 or jenny@jbp.co.uk