Watch as Sunderland children are 'super excited' after AESC volunteers bring their school grounds back to life

Children at Castletown Primary School are “super excited” after volunteers from AESC - manufacturers of the electric batteries for Nissan cars - have spent the last two weeks regenerating the school’s grounds and outdoor learning facilities for the children to use.

As part of the company’s community initiative, a willing band of ten volunteer workers have braved the unseasonable weather conditions to bring back to life the school’s forest garden and wildlife area.

This has included clearing the overgrown vegetation, creating a fire-pit and quiet learning area, installing new walkways, benches and log seating, and building and fitting bird nests and feeders.

The team have also built new sheds for the children to store any gardening equipment and outdoor learning resources.

With the work set to be complete on Friday (June 21) the children ``can't wait” to start using their new outdoor learning spaces.

Year 6 pupil Olamide Adewale, 10, said: “I was at football club and we could see all the work getting done. We got to have a sneak peek at the Forest School and it looks amazing and so much different to how it looked before.

“I’m super excited about everything being opened up.”

Year 5 pupil Maddie Stebbing, 10, said: “It’s really kind of the volunteers and they have done a really good job. I’m looking forward to being able to go to the quiet area to read a book.”

Classmate James O’brien, 10, added: “It’s all starting to take shape and I’m really excited about when everything gets opened.”

The redevelopment is one of a number of community projects volunteers from AESC have taken part in during recent months having already regenerated and redeveloped outdoor learning areas at Hasting Hill Academy and Plains Farm Academy.

AESC team leader Tom Wardell, 27, said: “As a company we wanted to give something back to the community and a lot of the lads who work for the company used to go to the schools we have helped.

“It’s a real sense of achievement when you see the areas transformed and very satisfying to see the smiles on the kids’ faces - it’s nice to see.”  

The project has been coordinated by teaching assistant and sports teacher Martin Richards, who contacted AESC after hearing about their work in the community.

Mr Richards said: “The work they have done has made a massive difference and it’s now somewhere safe for the children to go and enjoy.

“The work they have got through would have taken us months to do. It’s absolutely brilliant and I can’t thank AESC enough.

“Getting out and supporting the local community is brilliant and I think more companies should do it.”

Pupils will now be able to use the Forest School and wildlife garden to learn about the natural world as well as a quiet area for outdoor lessons and reading.

Headteacher Lee Duncan said: “The children are so excited about the regeneration of these new learning areas. Children who may struggle in a classroom can excel in an outdoor learning environment.

“We are extremely grateful to AESC for their help and the company also plan to return to the school to support pupils with their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning.”

It was a sentiment shared by Year 6 pupil Liliana Krajewska who said: “I’m really impressed and there has been a big change from what it was like.

“They have done a really good job. It looks amazing and I would like to say thank you.”