Barratt Homes Supports Blackburn School's Outdoor Learning with Generous Donation
Barratt Homes has made a significant contribution to St Francis Primary School in Blackburn by donating 20 tonnes of soil and multiple packets of wildflower seeds. This generous gesture aims to support the school's ongoing efforts to improve its external play areas, fostering a more engaging and natural environment for pupils.
Enhancing Outdoor Play and Learning
St Francis Primary School, located near Barratt Homes' Bernets Nook development, is actively involved in the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) scheme. This national programme focuses on strategically and sustainably enhancing the quality of play available in schools. In October 2024, the Blackburn-based school achieved the prestigious Platinum award, the first of its kind in the area, highlighting its commitment to high-quality outdoor education.
The recent donation from Barratt Homes will further advance the school's play options, building on its Platinum status. The soil, delivered with assistance from local plant machinery company Hurt Plant Hire Ltd, has been utilised to create new natural mounds in the play areas. These mounds provide additional physical challenges and creative play opportunities for children.
Wildflower Seeds and Previous Support
In addition to the soil, Barratt Homes provided seed packets containing varieties such as marigolds, forget-me-nots, and poppies. These seeds can be planted and nurtured around the school grounds, adding beauty and biodiversity to the environment. This donation follows a previous contribution from Barratt Homes in 2023, which included wildflower seeds and volunteer assistance to move 28 bags of sand into a sandpit and seven bags of wood chippings into the school's construction corner.
Catherine Foster, Headteacher at St Francis Primary School, expressed her gratitude, stating: "We are so grateful to Barratt Homes for their generous donation of the soil and wildflowers. Their kindness has enabled us to further develop our outdoor areas, ensuring that our Outdoor Play and Learning provision can be further enhanced with beautiful flowers, insects to learn about and mounds to play on. Thank you!"
Importance of Outdoor Learning
As highlighted by Evolve Advice, outdoor learning offers valuable opportunities to enrich education, promote personal growth, and connect children with the natural world. This aligns with the goals of the OPAL scheme and the school's initiatives to provide a holistic learning experience.
Rhys Nicholson, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, commented: "As a leading developer, we welcome many families to our communities, so working with local schools is of utmost importance to us, and we are delighted to have been able to help St Francis Primary School with a donation of soil and seeds. We are thrilled to have once again been able to support St Francis Primary School with their project to improve their outdoor areas, as these will be great assets to all the pupils who attend the school. We look forward to seeing the progress of this wide range of activities at St Francis Primary School."
This collaboration underscores Barratt Homes' commitment to community engagement and supporting educational environments that prioritise outdoor play and environmental awareness.
