Peter Bennie have donated large chunks of sandstone from Harlestone Quarry to Harlestone Primary School. The stone has been used to help build a new outdoor learning and development area for the students to climb and explore.
The development project is a dream of the primary school to encourage children to spend more time in a natural environment, which is proven to help with learning and development.
The outdoor space has seen the near completion of an allotment, wild area with trees and plants, meadow flowers and various feeding stations and housing for wildlife.
Learning comes in many forms, this new outdoor area will benefit the children both mentally and physically, helping with self-esteem, confidence and self-awareness as well as assisting with motor development. It’s vitally important to encourage children to spend more time outdoors as we live in an era that focuses on computers and phones.
The school has big plans for the future as well, hoping to secure funding and help in building an outdoor classroom. They have many ideas and a huge wish list but are working through it slowly thanks to the kindness of the local people and businesses.
When Peter Bennie learned of the school’s development project, we were eager to provide support wherever possible. The primary school was over the moon to receive the donated stones:
“Thank you all so much for your generosity, it is incredible to have the support of local companies such as yourselves with our project and really does make a huge difference to the children’s school experience.”
We’re also pleased that the stone is providing such a great experience for the children:
“They (children) absolutely love the stones, using them for all manner of things. One of their favourites other than climbing is pretending to search for fossils and gemstones.”
Peter Bennie are proud to join the local community, in helping Harlestone Primary School develop its land and facilities, to provide a better learning environment for the students.
If you would like to get involved in the development of the outdoor learning environment at Harlestone Primary School in anyway, please contact Kerri at kerriwoodman@gmail.com
