Member Article

Grant helps ambitious Forest School project

An ambitious project to revamp the forest school area of Billingshurst Primary School is now almost complete, thanks in part to a £1,000 grant from housebuilder Persimmon Homes Thames Valley.

The award was made as part of Persimmon’s Community Champions, a national match-funding scheme that supports groups and charities working to improve the quality of life or environment across the region.

Clare Roberts from Billingshurst Primary School Community Association said: “At £10,000, our ambitious project to revamp the Forest School area is one of the largest we have ever invested in and we are so grateful to Persimmon Homes for their support.

“The camp fire is now relocated to where the pond used to be with a new raised pond created at the bottom of the site. We have a new picket fence to safely contain Forest School, and 60 hedgerow plant and saplings have been planted. The living den has been pruned and shaped while the sandpit has received two tonnes of new play sand and a revamped cover to prevent nocturnal animals visiting.”

Fifteen cubic metres of wood chip have been spread over the existing paths to reduce muddy footprints, and 500g of wild flower seeds have been sown to create new colourful meadow grassland areas to help encourage visiting butterflies, bees and other wildlife.

To complete the project, a new shed arrives next month, work tables will be installed under trees, and there are plans for bird feeders, nest boxes, bug homes and a mud kitchen in time for an official grand re-opening later in the year.

Rachel Faulkner, sales director for Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, said: “We were so pleased to help out with the school’s Forest School project, which we know is well-used by the children attending Billingshurst Primary School. The site looks amazing, and we can’t wait to see the finished area at the grand opening.”

Community groups, charities and good causes across the country have benefited thanks to donations through the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme. Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form.

The scheme invites local groups and charities to bid for cash from a £750,000 national fund, with two donations of up to £1,000 being made locally each month.

Persimmon Homes and sister company Charles Church has new homes developments across West Sussex including at Littlehampton, Burgess Hill and Billingshurst itself.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Taylor .