Specialized Print sponsored a bench for the outside learning area. Painted in one of the company's corporate colours, it really brightens up the area. At lunch times the area is busy with students using the benches for socialising, sitting on their favourite coloured bench enjoying the sun.
Castle Manor Academy has created an outside learning area where its pupils can enjoy using the garden space for socializing and for getting involved with growing their own food. The project has been made possible by the support of local companies, such as Specialized Print and with backing from the RHS. The garden now includes a butterfly area, raised vegetable beds, a herb garden and several chickens! The students have also worked with the Woodland Trust planting hedgerows for wildlife shelter and to grow berries for wildlife and for use in cookery lessons!
Ann Aken, Director of Specialized Print said: “We were very happy to donate the bench to the school as part of the outside learning area. We recognize it is really important for children to learn where their food comes from, as well as how to grow and use the different crops. The brightly coloured benches, all in corporate colours give the children somewhere to sit and chat with friends at break-time or somewhere to rest during a heavy gardening session! We were thrilled to see our rather stunning purple bench being used!” Other donations have included bulbs, a raised bed area, gardening gloves, planters and fencing for the chickens.
Becky Baldwin, the teacher at Castle Manor responsible for the project said: “Without the support of local companies such as Specialized Print, the outside learning area would not have been possible, so Castle Manor and our pupils are incredibly grateful and we now look forward to using the area to its full potential. We are delighted that the garden project has received the highest award from the RHS School Gardening Scheme.”
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