Cash Boost Plants Trees in Schools

Six schools in Runcorn have had their grounds transformed through a combined project between environmental groups and industry.

The recipients were part of an overall scheme to improve 15 school grounds in Cheshire thanks to a substantial grant from ICI Chlor-Chemicals.

The company has provided more than £100,000 toward the improvement programme organised by the Mersey Forest team and Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

The main aim is to improve the quality of life for children while at the same time creating new habitats that will contribute to the creation of a Community Forest covering nearly 400 square miles of Merseyside and Cheshire.

The schools that were helped in Runcorn were St Augustine's, Westfield, Weston Point, Weston, Beechwood and Castle View.

John Sanders, ICI Chlor-Chemicals' Community Relations Officer, said: 'The funding is made possible through ICI's participation in the Landfill Tax credit scheme, which provides an excellent opportunity for ICI Chlor-Chemicals to contribute to environmental improvements within the community. We are delighted that so many local schools are benefiting from the scheme'.

Jo Sayers, the Mersey Forest's Community Development Officer, sees school grounds as an important part of the creation of the Mersey forest.

'There are nearly 1,000 schools in the forest area. If the concept of Community Forests is to become a reality we need to involve all ages. In thirty years' time, today's children will be the ones managing the forest.'

A Widnes school has been hailed as a 'school to be proud of' after a visit from the inspectors.

Ashley School recently played host to the schools' inspectors who heaped praise upon the institution.

Since the last inspection in 1995 the school is said to have moved forward considerably and has been praised for its good progress.

Headteacher Linda King and her senior management team received special recognition as the school was described by the inspector as being 'well-led'.

The report noted that attitudes to learning are very good, as are relationships between staff and pupils and effective teaching meant that pupils made good progress in the majority of lessons.

Other aspects of school life that were highlighted included its links with the community which were seen as excellence, its environmental education and its development of notions of good citizenship among pupils.

The school has now been included in a recent report from the Government-backed Advisory Group on Education for Citizenship and Teaching of Democracy in School as an example of good practice.

Headteacher Mrs King said: 'We welcome the inspectors' judgement which supported the parents' positive views about the school'.  

Widnes Weekly News - Paul Cook

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Craig Welsh
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Email: craig.welsh@ineoschlor.com