YOUNGSTERS Enjoying Improvements To Outdoor Learning Area

NURSERY children at an Inverclyde school are getting closer to nature at playtime in a new educational outdoor area created by local developers.

The outdoor learning area at St Francis’s Primary and Nursery School in Port Glasgow has been brought to life by Sanctuary Scotland and Cruden Building.

The school is on the doorstep of Sanctuary Scotland’s new development of 24 affordable flats on Dubbs Road in Port Glasgow, which has been built by construction partners Cruden Building.

Funding for the play area transformation was made available by Sanctuary’s MORE! initiative, with Cruden Building providing their skills and time.

Sanctuary’s MORE! programme sees development partners work together to add value to areas where homes are being constructed by donating skills, resources and equipment to help important local community projects.

The team from Cruden created the exciting new area by building timber bench seating, planters and troughs, a water activity wall, work benches and a mud kitchen, with artificial grass, woodchips and mulch surrounding the area.

Nursery deputy, Carrie Murphy, said: “Thanks to this fantastic support we can fully realise the dream of this outdoor play area for pupils to safely enjoy, play and learn in.

“We consider ourselves very lucky to have had this opportunity to improve the outdoor experiences of our children.”

Gillian Lavety, Sanctuary’s development director for Scotland, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming our first residents at the 24 new affordable homes on Dubbs Road in Port Glasgow.

“It is important to us that our contractors across all of our developments provide benefits for local people and this outdoor learning transformation project is a great example.”

Gordon Lee, of Cruden Building, said: “We are committed to supporting good causes in the local areas that we work in.

“We’re delighted to support this school project in partnership with Sanctuary and we hope the children have many years of fun and learning outdoors in this new play area.”

Sanctuary is developing a total of 96 homes for social rent across Greenock and Port Glasgow, to be managed by Sanctuary Scotland.