2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bedfont Primary School in Hounslow today celebrated the official opening of its eco-garden, allowing pupils at the school to learn first-hand about biodiversity and develop their understanding of the natural environment.
The garden was built thanks to a £20,000 grant from the Heathrow Community Fund. The grant has allowed an area of wasteland that was previously unsuitable for children to use to be transformed into an eco-garden where children can study wildlife and enjoy quiet, peaceful reflection.
The garden has been designed to encourage butterflies and insects to the area, which pupils need to study as part of the school curriculum. Reclaimed and recycled materials have been used to develop habitats for these insects, enhancing the children’s understanding of sustainability.
Ann Broughton, Head Teacher at Bedfont Primary School, says: ‘We are delighted that our vision of an eco-garden has now come to fruition, and is already benefitting so many pupils by teaching them about biodiversity, how to care for plants and wildlife and giving them a tranquil, multi-sensory environment which was so desperately needed. We are very grateful to the Heathrow Community Fund for the grant that made this possible and we are looking forward to watching the garden develop over the course of the year.’
David McMillian, Chairman of the Heathrow Community Fund and Caroline Nicholls, Director of the Heathrow Community Fund, today visited to school to see the garden and meet some of the pupils who will help care for it.
Caroline said: ‘Heathrow’s Communities for Tomorrow scheme supports projects that help protect the environment or encourage sustainable development and eco education in our local communities. We are delighted to see the difference that our grant has made to Bedfont Primary School, transforming a derelict piece of land into a space that all the pupils can learn from and enjoy.’
Heathrow’s Community Fund makes donations to community projects local to the airport. Its focus is on projects linked to education and youth development, the environment and employment/skills development. It is part of an independent grant-making charity, set up in 1996 to support and strengthen local communities close to the airport. For further information, please visit www.heathrow.com/communityfund
Contact information
Heathrow Airport media centre
+44 (0)20 8745 7224
media_centre@heathrow.com
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Heathrow Community Fund Bedfont Primary School eco garden