Pupils at St Martin’s Garden Primary School returned after the summer holidays to discover a previously overgrown part of the school had been transformed into a brand-new Forest School area.
The space, which lies between the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 wings, had been left largely untouched for years, with ivy climbing up the building, brambles preventing access and trees needing attention. That changed when the Campus Services Team from the University of Bath volunteered their time during the summer holidays to clear and landscape the area.
The team cut back brambles and ivy, trimmed trees to make the space safe, laid bark along pathways, built a den and installed ropes for children to climb on and explore.
Nathan Jenkins, Executive Headteacher at Ralph Allen School and St Martin’s Garden Primary School, said, “Students and staff were surprised and delighted when they returned to school at the beginning of September.
“The area had been left untouched for so many years that many students and staff had never actually seen it in a usable state. The University of Bath team came in over the holidays, volunteering their time to give back to the community and completely relandscaped the space.”
Outdoor learning for every class
Children have already begun using the area, with every class now timetabled to spend time there. The school is also developing its Forest School curriculum to make greater use of the new outdoor learning space.
Nathan added, “The importance of outdoor learning is critical for all young people as it builds confidence, develops life and social skills, promotes physical and mental wellbeing and supports children to learn about nature and respect the environment.”
Pupils are now being invited to help choose a name for the new area through a school competition. St Martin’s Garden will also be fundraising for wellington boots, waterproof clothing and a canopy, allowing children to use the area throughout the year.
Nathan said, “Everyone at St Martin’s Garden is over the moon with the work and would like to thank everyone from the University of Bath for their continued support. We look forward to inviting the team back to roast marshmallows with us soon.”
