First school takes leading role in giving youngsters a closer link with nature

A YORKSHIRE first school is pioneering a new style of classroom that will help to teach pupils about the importance of the environment while boosting the staff efforts to meet sustainability targets.

Shepley First School, near Huddersfield, is the first in the country to receive a new “ecolodge” developed by a playground manufacturers whose expertise in designing outdoor equipment has now led to them creating a 21st century classroom.

The timber room has low-energy lighting, a renewable power supply and greater thermal efficiency along with a sedum roof that will allow grass to grow and attract wildlife. It also includes a mini-greenhouse, solar panel, water butt, wind turbine and nesting boxes.

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It was designed by Timberline, a playground manufacturer based in Chesterfield, in partnership with the school.

Shepley First School’s business manager Val Hollingworth said: “The ecolodge is an incredible learning tool which will teach our children about the importance of the environment, allowing them to observe the changing seasons. It’s not only given us a much needed extra classroom space but it will also help us to make a significant impact on our eco-drive, especially as we are aiming for the Green Flag gold eco award this year.

“The children are delighted with it and have already had tremendous fun growing their own food to eat at lunchtime, going on mini beast hunts and seeing the different wildlife attracted to the sedum roof. We are also planning to make the ecolodge available to the wider community, with the local bird watching association already expressing interest in using the facility.”

Timberline founder Simon Fearnehough said: “We’ve specifically developed the eco lodge to help the education sector in its drive for eco-efficiency, especially given the Government’s target for every school in the UK to be sustainable by 2020.”