Osbaldwick Primary Academy celebrate the opening of their forest school area thanks to donations from the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust and a generous local benefactor, Mr Julian Pattison.
Fran Eggington from The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, gardeners from Brunswick Organic Nursery and local benefactor, Mr Pattison, were invited to join members of the school community to mark this important milestone with a ‘cutting of the ribbon’ ceremony, the planting of azaleas, speeches, and the placing of new wooden ‘forest school’ signs made by a talented parent, Robert Davison.
The children rushed in to start playing in this new woodland play area, but this would not have been possible without this unexpected grant from a caring neighbour and a great deal of grounds clearing and landscaping from the Brunswick team.
Mr Matthew Brown, Headteacher of the school, said
“Forest School is essential to primary education because it gives children an opportunity to learn and interact in an outdoor area developing a connection with nature and the seasons. We find that it really helps children to grow socially, emotionally, and physically – helping children with self-esteem and allowing them to express curiosity about the world around them.”
Brunswick Organic Nursery is a York based charity that enables people with learning difficulties to enrich their lives through work. They undertake groundwork and landscaping, grow plants, and produce a variety of crafted goods. https://www.brunswickyork.org.uk/
Joseph Rowntree Trust are a York based charity who support positive social change. https://www.jrct.org.uk/
