Conserving a corner of Yate
June 2007
Bristol’s largest independent builders merchant recently helped a local school in Yate with the first steps of creating a conservation garden.
Following a request from the parent teacher association of King’s Court Primary School at Sundridge Park in Yate, Kellaway Building Supplies became interested in helping this new project where the children have come together and formed a “Gardening and Conservation Club” out of school hours. Their aim is to renovate their existing disused and overgrown conservation area, along with extending and nurturing it future generations.
“The support from local companies has been excellent, and when Kellaway offered to donate some of the materials, we were particularly pleased. They have provided some of the key items to allow us to really start work on the project including the materials for raised beds and relaying the paths and paved areas around the pond” said Andrea Maggs of King’s Court Parent and Teachers Association.
King’s Court is a well established primary school in the heart of Yate, where staff and children have been making a huge effort to raise standards following an Ofsted inspection last July when the school was placed in special measures. The teachers and the PTA alike felt that the chidren’s hard work needed to be rewarded. When the idea of the conservation area was initially suggested, everyone felt it was the perfect way to boost morale through fun activities while providing a wide range of educational opportunities. Headteacher Ms Kent said that the whole project is proving a huge success so far and the enthusiasm amongst the children for the project has been fantastic to see.
Kellaway Building Supplies opened its Yate branch approximately 18 months ago. Having grown into an extremely well established business, the team were particularly pleased to be able to help this project. “It’s great to be able to put something back into the community that has supported us along the way. We hope the pupils achieve all they need to with their garden and it helps the school strengthen its position in the local area.” said branch manager Nick Herridge.
The children are aiming to complete their conservation garden by September 2007, by which time the project will feature vegetable plots, a small wild flower meadow, hedgehog home, bird boxes and hedgerow habitat.