HTI Greener Communities 2011

HTI 'Ground force team' transform Oak Cottage Primary School garden and play areas

30 staff from Coventry-based national charity HTI (Heads, Teachers & Industry) devoted an entire teambuilding day on Friday 3rd June to giving Solihull's Oak Cottage Primary School a complete garden makeover as part of HTI's annual Greener Communities scheme.

Greener Communities is an innovative scheme designed to bring businesses and schools together to work on community enhancing environmental projects.

Anne Evans OBE, chief executive of HTI, said:

"It's important for pupils to have access to safe, fun and educational outside spaces to enhance learning. HTI 'Greener Communities' programmes broker relationships between businesses and their local schools and we will use this opportunity to help Oak Cottage pupils benefit from an exciting new outdoor learning environment.

"We have worked for 25 years to create and nurture links between schools and businesses. It is vital to build external links not just with other schools but across the wider community and this scheme does just that. These links are all about making education more relevant and meaningful for pupils and more inspiring for the teachers who are preparing them for adult life."

The transformation included creating an environmental area with bird nesting boxes, bird tables and mini beast houses along with raised beds where the children can grow plants and vegetables.

The outdoor learning space will help support the curriculum for the Foundation Key Stage and Key stage 1. Oak Cottage Primary school have started a 'gardening club' which takes place once a week after school where the children are able to grow their own vegetables.

Local companies helped by providing HTI staff team with resources for the day. JBS Waste contributed with a skip, Midland Forestry provided the bark chippings and the Co-op gave seed packs.

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