The playground of Bathwick St Mary Church School in Bath has benefitted from a revamp and expansion thanks to BECT, the company overseeing construction at the Holburne Park development.
Kevin Purkiss, Ali Gatehouse and James Harris with pupils from the school | Photo © Philip Field / www.philipfield.com
The work was carried out on a voluntary basis by members of BECT’s construction team, with the backing of Hardrock Developments, the developers behind Holburne Park, as well as donations from landscapers Afan and groundworkers Renelec.
To enlarge the play area, significant groundwork was needed to remove a diseased tree, stumps and boulders, clear weeds and prepare the ground for AstroTurf.
An area around a badger set has been cleared of excess weeds and brambles and protected by a fence to allow the children to safely study the animals.
A shaded space that was previously waterlogged has been made safe for play, while new paving alongside the school’s pond has further enhanced the school’s outdoor environment.
Jonathan Matthews, BECT Operations Director, said: “As one of our close neighbours at Holburne Park, it’s been a pleasure to support Bathwick St. Mary Church School by using the skills of our team and the help of our partners to make these improvements that we hope pupils will enjoy for many years.
“Working with the local community has been a priority for us throughout the construction process and we have welcomed the opportunity to strengthen ties with the school.
“As well as giving the children more space to play, the work has created a blank canvas on which to install equipment and enhance the school’s outdoor education programme.”
Kevin Purkiss, Headteacher at Bathwick St. Mary Church School said: “We are so grateful for the generosity and support of BECT and the Holburne Park Team as we have overhauled the play space for our children.
“A significant proportion of the school grounds have been completely redeveloped which has enabled all year round access to our play garden and woodland area.
“The new surfacing and overhaul of the site has made a fantastic difference to the play experiences and learning opportunities for all of our children.
“Without their generous support we would still be in the early stages of fundraising for this project.”
