NATURE-LOVING pupils at a Leamington school need your vote.
St Paul’s School is celebrating after being shortlisted for a £10,000 Severn Trent Community Fund grant which will see their pond and nature area re-vamped and revitalized.
The application, submitted by the school’s Parent Teacher Association, is one of ten similar projects now vying to receive the sizeable sum of money.
The final decision as to who wins the investment will be made by Severn Trent customers who are invited to vote for their favourite now at www.stwater.co.uk/publicvote
Rachel Bowcutt, co-chair of the PTA, said: “Sadly while St Paul’s does have a pond in the grounds, most current pupils do not even know it exists. It has a ripped lining it is overgrown and unloved and therefore no longer used.
“Next to the pond is a large open area which was previously used as an outdoor classroom and sensory area. This too has become overgrown and dangerous in places. With the help of this grant, we would like to make our pond and surrounding area thrive again.”
The application talked about the potential environmental benefits of the new pond and nature area including attracting wildlife, increasing biodiversity and storing carbon. But huge emphasis was also put on the educational and sensory opportunities it will provide to both pupils and staff.
The Upper Holly Walk school currently has 330 pupils between the age of four and 11.
Interim headteacher Caroline Newell said: “We practice the ‘Thrive Approach’ in school as a way of supporting children’s development and mental health and a fundamental part of this approach is the belief that spending time surrounded in nature can help our children’s emotional wellbeing.
“The sensory nature garden and pond will be a beautiful, calm space for both pupils and staff to think and reflect.”
Voting closes at midnight on April 24.
