Recycling and Repurposing Unwanted Items

In March, we were awarded the 'Climate Change Grant' by Daventry District Council. This enabled us to buy new composters, water butts, fruit trees, seeds to create a wild meadow area and lots of herbs and vegetables.

To complement these new additions to our garden the staff decided to start building new equipment out of unwanted items. We put an add on the FaceBook local community sites and were instantly overwhelmed by the amount of support for our campaign. Not only did we get a huge amount of items from local residents; local businesses such as 4Shires Builders Merchants and David Stretton plumbing services also donated and continue to donate items which help us to develop our outdoor area.

The children have helped to put some of the items together and are learning how to use tools safely. They have their own screwdrivers, vice, screws, nuts and bolts and spanners. So far, the children have planted strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, runner beans, peas, basil, apple and peach trees. They learn how to take care of the plants and will eventually pick the produce for snack each day.

Our next project is to create a wooden lodge from donated wooden pallets and to add more 'loose parts' to our 'open ended' resources. All of the areas have been carefully thought out and planned to encourage specific skills and development such as: communication; fine and gross motor muscles; imagination/storytelling; understanding the world and social and emotional skills through team work and cooperation.