Emmaus Bolton works with RHS to help school transform grounds

Emmaus Bolton’s workshop created planters as part of the Department for Education funded National Education Nature Park scheme to help schools encourage biodiversity to their local areas.

Schoolchildren at St Joseph The Worker RC Primary School on Cutnook Lane in Irlam mapped out their new look.

Part of the plans created by the school included planting new trees in traditionally ‘grey’ areas and providing seating in the shade to create new quiet areas and places for reading.

To help with this project, furniture-makers at Emmaus Bolton built five tree planters surrounded by seating over the course of seven days from pressure-treated pine from renewable sources, which were then delivered and built at the school.

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Headteacher Evelyn Clayton said: “An advisor from the RHS spoke very highly of Emmaus’ services and thought that the charity would be able to create what we were looking for.

“The kids were very excited on Monday to see the planters and they have created a real buzz in the playground!

“A group of children have already come to me to see if they can paint them in the future to turn them into pieces of art!

“We feel we have got a bespoke product that has been made with love and we are delighted that we, in turn, have been able to support the wonderful work happening in Emmaus!”

St Joseph’s School worked closely with the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund Advisor, who is part of the Community Outreach Team at the Royal Horticultural Society for this project, which was funded by the Department for Education and charity Hamilton Davies Trust.

Emmaus Bolton works with RHS to to help schoolchildren boost biodiversity (Image: Emmaus Bolton) Emmaus Bolton has completed several builds for the RHS, including planters and picnic tables at RHS Garden Bridgewater and garden furniture for the grounds of health centres and other community spaces across Greater Manchester.

Mrs Clayton said: “Fingers crossed, when this is complete, we hope to see if we can attract more birds, bees, butterflies and insects to our site.

“This is the first phase for our school becoming a nature park school. Children are involved and will continue to be asked to complete activities to monitor and measure the success of project and be involved in the planning of further initiatives.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.