Bellway brings primary school’s nature garden back to life

The nature garden at West Wimbledon Primary School has been brought back to life by Bellway – making it fully accessible for pupils once more.

The company, which is building new homes nearby at its Cavendish Grove development in Raynes Park, carried out an extensive renovation of the outdoor space which had fallen out of use after becoming overgrown.

The team erected a new perimeter fence, cleared the overgrown weeds and nettles, tidied up the existing wooden shelter, and carried out new planting as part of the restoration project. They also provided a bug hotel, bat boxes and bird feeders to attract wildlife.

Dan Wilson, School Business Manager at West Wimbledon Primary School, said: “We have a really diverse community at the school and many of our pupils live in homes which don’t have a garden. The nature garden at the school therefore provides an extremely valuable opportunity for the children to interact with the natural world which they wouldn’t otherwise have.

“The garden had fallen out of use because it had become increasingly difficult to maintain due to the overgrown weeds and nettles, which in turn made it more difficult to access. The renovation work by Bellway will allow us to use the space fully once more, both as an educational resource to complement the curriculum but also as a quiet place for pupils, particularly those with additional needs, to relax during breaktimes.

“We have also received some really useful advice from Bellway on the best types of planting to use, which will make it easier for us to maintain the garden in a more sustainable way going forwards. To have the support of organisations like Bellway, who can provide expertise and access to resources for projects like this, is invaluable. It allows us as a school to offer additional things which are not part of our statutory duties but which are of real value to our pupils.”

Natalie Haigh, Sales Manager at Bellway Southern Counties, said: “Our relationship with West Wimbledon Primary School reflects our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where we build. It’s been a pleasure to work on this project to bring the school’s garden back into use, ensuring more children can experience and enjoy the wonders of nature.”

Bellway is building 107 new homes at Cavendish Grove, on the former London Electricity Sports and Social Association (LESSA) site off Meadowview Road. As part of the development, Bellway is also delivering tennis courts, a multi-use games area, five-a-side football pitch and children’s playground.

For more information about the development, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/southern-counties/cavendish-grove.

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