A ‘TRANSFORMATIONAL’ green scheme has been announced for the grounds of Addingham Primary School.

The Green Heart of Addingham project is aiming to develop the site into a variety of different spaces to allow ‘school and community engagement with the environment’.

Village groups and supporters of the school met recently to hear about the plans from Headteacher Hilary Cave, Chair of Governors Anna Robinson and Chair of FAPS - the parents’ association - Sarah Griffin.

A fundraising target of £100,000 has been set by those involved to pay for the creation of a number of outdoor learning and experience zones. Those will include:

*Woodland and wetland areas

*A beck and a meadow

*An outdoor play area

*Growing zones.

The school believes the resulting, remodelled grounds will provide an inspiring place for children and adults to learn about wildlife and sustainability issues.

Anna Robinson said: “I have always loved being chair of governors but this is the most exciting scheme that I have been involved in yet; it is transformational.

“The event was about positively engaging our community members and gaining their support for a resource which will benefit everyone. There are 5,000 people live in Addingham; if everyone contributed £10 we would be half-way to our target.”

Hilary Cave added: “We are really pleased that the benefits of this project will be available to other local groups such as AEG, the Addingham Environmental Group, and to other children and young people in the area. This is truly a community project and one that will benefit all ages.”

The initiative is being supported by Wharfedale businesses Affinity Educational Solutions and The Yorkshire Wordwright.

Adventure play and education development company Cap.Co has been recruited to deliver ‘an integrated scheme...which will allow exploration, investigation and learning for all ages’.