Our Birmingham team joined WT Partnership (WTP) to support Ercall Wood Academy’s ‘Land Base’ project which is run by The Learning Community Trust (LCT).
Seven of our people joined the volunteering day to rejuvenate the gardens near the Academy which are used to deliver their horticultural Aspire Programme. Aiming to provide new planters and access routes so students would have a ‘clean slate’ for growing next year’s crops, the day was filled with activities such as clearing weeds, removing rotting external beds, repairing a polytunnel, preparing ground and laying weed membrane. The volunteers also put together a number of raised beds and filled both existing and new beds with fresh soil, created bark walkways and planted a variety of fruit trees.
This green space is a dedicated outdoor area for SEN children who benefit hugely from developing their gardening skills and expanding their knowledge of how to grow their own produce, which they distribute to local food banks. The garden also offers an opportunity for the children to develop key skills such as team building, whilst increasing their confidence and communication.
In a recent statement, Tracy Jones of Ercall Wood Academy said: “The Aspire Programme has been a huge success as the holistic approach to learning not only benefits the students’ skills development, but is also an important part of giving back to the community. Vegetables that we grow are packed into food parcels and donated to the LCT Food Hub and to students within the school.”
Waterman is currently working alongside the LCT, WTP and AHR Architects to deliver a SEN school for the Telford and Wrekin Authority.
