Students from Lawn Manor Academy’s Forest School recently took part in a community initiative, collaborating with Christ Church in Old Town to rejuvenate a previously neglected area on the church grounds.
Eight Year 10 pupils, consisting of four from the after-school forest club and four from the school’s Connect 10+ class, dedicated their morning to the project. The Connect 10+ class caters to pupils with additional learning needs, offering them an alternative learning environment beyond traditional classrooms.
Leveraging the skills acquired through the forest school programme, the students undertook the task of clearing an area in the churchyard. They then planted 30 native British trees and shrubs, such as hawthorn, dogwood, dogrose, crab apple, and hazel.
These plants, generously donated by the Woodland Trust, aim to repopulate a wildlife area, provide sustenance and shelter for local wildlife, and offer coverage to a banked area of the church grounds. Additionally, the pupils engaged in litter-picking activities within the church grounds.
Lee Horsford, Forest School lead at Lawn Manor Academy, expressed the value of this hands-on experience for the students. He mentioned, “It’s also very beneficial for them to be able to meet and spend time with people from across our local community and learn more about what others do.”
The Christ Church Eco Group sought assistance from Lawn Manor Academy after learning about the Forest School through news stories. The Eco Group collaborates with the Christ Church congregation and the wider community to address environmental concerns, focusing on Creation Care. In addition to enhancing the church grounds and biodiversity, the group explores ways to introduce renewable energy and other measures to reduce the church’s carbon footprint.
Anne Grainger, Chair of the Christ Church Eco Group, expressed gratitude for the students’ hard work, stating, “We really appreciate the help and hard work from the pupils at Lawn Manor Academy. This is the start of our 10 year plan for this area of the church and we’re looking forward to spring when we hope to see the fruits of their labour with the trees and bushes providing food and shelter for wildlife.”
Lee continued: “The dedication of the Christ Church Eco Group to preserving and enhancing our natural environment complements what we teach through the Forest School and Connect+ provision and so working together is a natural fit. We’ve already planned out different projects that will benefit our pupils and the church so this is just the start of an exciting community collaboration.”
Lawn Manor Academy operates under the Ascend Learning Trust. For more information, visit www.lawnmanor.org.
