Youngsters from St George’s Church of England Primary School in Semington have made history in their own small way, thanks to a time capsule project that’s now buried deep in their school grounds – all with a bit of help from local housebuilder David Wilson Homes South West.
The primary school, based on Pound Lane, joined forces with the developer – currently building at Buckley Gardens just up the road – to preserve memories of 2025 for future generations. Pupils contributed handwritten letters, drawings, and mementos of modern-day life, thoughtfully packed into the capsule before it was buried on the school site.
The project wasn’t just about digging holes and burying artefacts – it also included a surprise donation of more than £500 worth of books from Usborne Books to the school library. With just 91 pupils enrolled, that’s a significant gift for the children, who range from Reception to Year 6.
Tiffany Butcher, Principal of St George’s, was full of praise for the project:
“This has been such an exciting and meaningful project for the children. Not only have they thought about what’s important to them now, but they’ve also considered what future pupils might like to know. The generous donation of books is the cherry on top – we’re incredibly grateful to the team from David Wilson Homes South West for their support.”
The initiative reflects a growing trend of developers actively contributing to the communities in which they build. Louise Ware, Sales Director at Barratt David Wilson Homes South West, said:
“It was a pleasure to work with St George’s Church of England Primary School on this creative and thoughtful project. Education and community are key to what we do, so we’re always proud to support local schools with meaningful contributions such as this.”
Buckley Gardens itself sits between the A350 and Semington Road and forms part of a wider vision for the area. It will eventually include 144 new homes, ranging from two- to five-bedrooms, along with 43 affordable properties available through Heylo, a shared ownership provider.
Residents will benefit from seven acres of green space, newly planted trees, ponds, and a play area, all within walking distance of local pubs and cafes. With Melksham town centre a five-minute drive and the M4 just under 25 minutes away, it offers strong commuter links to Bath, Bristol, and Swindon.
As time moves on and the landscape of Semington continues to grow, the buried capsule will remain – a quiet reminder of the thoughts, hopes and creativity of a group of schoolchildren in 2025.
