Primary school eco-club flourishes thanks to donation from housebuilder

A FORMBY Primary School has received a much needed donation from Redrow’s voluntary community fund meaning children as young as seven can get their green fingers.

Woodlands Primary School on Woodlands Road, has a thriving ‘eco club’ attended by approximately 20 children aged seven to eleven. Originally set up by teacher Mrs Pickford 10 years ago, site manager Jason Inskip and retired teaching assistant Mrs Jennings also volunteer with the children.

Eco-club leader Jason, says the ‘eco warriors’ tackle all sorts of projects during their lunchtimes including building greenhouses from recycled plastic bottles, creating woodchip pathways and planting hedgerows and fruit and vegetables.

“The members have even done some willow weaving and built bug houses as well as maintaining the ‘eco club’ garden for the benefit of all,” Jason said. “This garden is filled with flowering plants and is teaming with wildlife in the form of frogs, butterflies and bees.”

Woodlands School is particularly proud that the eco club garden has been 100% created and maintained by the children.

The club raises funds mostly through selling plants to parents and local residents that the children have grown from seed.

Some of the money donated by Redrow has been used to purchase additional trolleys so members can spread woodchip onto the garden’s pathways more efficiently.

Jason added: “The work done by eco club benefits the whole school, as everybody can use the garden as a quiet place to relax. The outdoor learning spaces the children work on are also of benefit to the whole school and parents alike. The parents and local residents also love the plants the children sell.”

Lesley Myers, sales manager at Redrow Homes (Lancashire), said: “Eco-clubs such as this one are brilliant as they introduce young children to gardening and also give them a love for the outdoors too. The school’s garden benefits a lot of people aside from the pupils so it was something Redrow definitely wanted to help with.”

Redrow has helped a number of community groups and good causes around Formby as part of a £5,000 voluntary community fund.