Community outdoor learning space created at St Patrick's School

Providing a space for members of the community to connect, Nature School, an outdoor learning environment, has opened in Cleator Moor, after a collaborative landscaping effort.

Where there were once weeds, litter, and abandoned bicycles, there is now an outdoor classroom, fruit trees, raised beds, a fire pit, and a wildlife pond. These make up the new Nature School, available for community groups to book and use all year round.

St Patrick's School student get involved (Image: Penny Watson)

From children in local nurseries to engineering apprentices and knit and natter groups, Nature School is designed to be accessible to all, regardless of age and ability.

The initiative, run by and located at St Patrick’s Primary School and supported by the Sellafield Ltd Engineering Centre of Excellence, has been made possible thanks to Arborscape Environmental Services, Nexus, The Decommissioning Alliance (TDA), ADAPT, and Integrated Decommissioning Solutions (IDS).

Using horticultural and landscaping expertise from Arborscape, support from the supply chain and a shared vision with the school where the land is based, the area has evolved into a community space that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Students from St Patrick’s Primary School join in (Image: Penny Watson)

Claire O’Connor, socio-economic lead at the Sellafield Engineering Centre of Excellence, said: “What started as a conversation about potential new summer projects, has evolved into something that all involved are incredibly proud of.

“Working alongside Rob Reid from St Patrick’s School, and seeing the generosity from the supply chain, has demonstrated the importance of, and passion for, community in this region.

“There’s a big focus on STEM resources, and while the community benefits from the incredible technology developed here, the positive effects of enjoying and embracing nature are endless. The Nature School is an investment in the best interests of our community, environment, and future.

The team who made the Nature School possible (Image: Penny Watson)

“We couldn’t have achieved such an impressive result without the vision and expertise of Arborscape, who blew us all away with their extensive knowledge of the natural world.

"It is thanks to Sam Pagett (business owner at Arborscape) and his team that the space is home to native plants that are suited to the landscape, and the surrounding trees are healthy and free from diseases."

Rob Reid said: “The area where the Nature School now sits was an overgrown patch of wasteland, much of which was too boggy to use. As a school, we identified the need to provide usable outdoor learning space to enhance the curriculum and pupil well-being.

Beth Mahone from the team at the Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor joins the St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School students at the Nature School around the fire (Image: Penny Watson)

"We also wanted to provide a space that could be used by the wider community groups in the area. Working with the school, Arborscape, Sellafield, and the supply chain, we have delivered a truly one-of-a-kind resource for the school and local groups.

“It has only been made possible to achieve the outcome through the vision of Sellafield, who immediately identified the project as being one of value to the people of Cleator Moor.

“While the staff and children at St Patrick's have already been spending time in the Nature School, we can't wait to get groups from other schools and the wider community in and using the facilities on site, eating from the orchard, caring for the garden and generally spending time in nature.”

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School pupils enjoying the deck by the new pond at the Nature School in Cleator Moor (Image: Penny Watson)

The Nature School is available to book through St Patrick’s Primary School, community groups can contact the school at natureschool@st-patrick-cleatormoor.cumbria.sch.uk, during school term times. The space can also be booked by calling 01946 810513.