Story Homes has worked with pupils at James Rennie School to help complete a project which will allow the students to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
The students have recently been working on the gardening project which will see them make the most of the school’s outdoor space, however, a significant amount of topsoil, gravel and labour was required in order to complete the project.
James Rennie is a school for pupils aged 3-19 who have severe or profound learning needs and live in the North of Cumbria, and the school is situated less than a mile from Story Homes’ Aspen Grange development.
In a bid to work together to help complete the project, Story Homes donated the topsoil required whilst sister company, Story Contracting, helped with the labour and arranging the delivery of the materials from Aspen Grange to nearby James Rennie School. Screwfix also provided financial contributions towards the completion of the project.
The pupils will now use the garden area to grow flowers and vegetable plants and the project has helped them to learn a number of new practical skills from labouring to growing produce.
Kris Williams, Head Teacher of James Rennie School, said: “Pupils at James Rennie School – a school for pupils with severe and profound learning needs – have designed and built accessible planters that all of our pupils can grow flowers and vegetables in. When it came to completing the project we needed topsoil and gravel and Story Homes stepped up to help with labour and materials. Over a morning they worked with our pupils to shift nearly eight tonnes of material and help us complete a wonderful project.”
John Story, Managing Director for Story Homes in Cumbria & Scotland said: “James Rennie school is located just half a mile from our Aspen Grange development, and so when the request came in for materials to help complete the students’ garden project, we really wanted to help.
“Supporting the local communities in the areas that we build is really important to us and as a responsible builder, we always try to do what we can to help. The students and Story team had a great time completing the project and we hope that the pupils enjoy using their new garden.”