23rd January 2017
Youngsters in Upton will soon be getting hands-on with the natural world as part of their education, thanks to a dedicated Forest School area.
The area has been created by the Land Trust which is the national land management charity that maintains and enhances the green spaces throughout the Upton development in Northampton. The outdoor classroom gives pupils from nearby Upton Meadows Primary School the chance to learn directly from and within nature.
Charles Langtree, Midlands Estate Manager at the Land Trust, said: “Getting people engaged with their local green space is one of our priorities here at Upton, and it’s been really rewarding to work with the school to establish this dedicated outdoor classroom. The children are already really enthusiastic about the natural world and we hope this space will encourage them to continue learning about and caring for our wildlife and the environment in which they live.”
A special assembly was held at the school on Friday 20th January so all the children could find out about the classroom, before walking to the site where Councillor Jill Hope performed the official opening. The youngsters then got stuck in to some activities and gave their school’s new ‘extension’ the thumbs-up.
Sue Gardner, Head Teacher at Upton Meadows Primary School, added: “We are passionate about outdoor learning at Upton Meadows and working with the Land Trust to acquire our Forest School site is going to be such an asset for the school. To see the children experiencing awe and wonder in the outside environment is inspirational and will benefit all the children in developing their confidence, resilience and self-esteem.”
The Forest School area includes benches made from tree trunks, bug hotels, nesting boxes, and the Land Trust has also provided special kit, such as tarpaulins, rope, and small tools.
One child said: “We had so much fun, we found the snake’s log pile from the Gruffalo.”
If you have any questions or queries about what we do or how to go about working with us we'd love to hear from.
Contact usWe are always on the look out for enthusiastic, committed people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their local community.
Get Involved