Gleeson regeneration plants for the future

The grounds of a Burnley primary school have been "spruced" up thanks to a donation from Urban Regeneration specialist, Gleeson Regeneration. Gleeson donated funds enabling Springfield Community Primary School to plant an orchard of fruit trees for budding horticulturists to grow.

The orchard is part of ongoing activities to transform the extensive school grounds and provide schoolchildren with a range of outdoor activities.

Headteacher, Anne Wells, explains: "Thanks to the generous donation from Gleeson we now have an orchard that the children will see grow, flower and fruit. Ultimately the children will be able to make food with the fruits from the trees. The idea is to continue over the coming years with the aim of having beds for the children to plant and harvest."

Gleeson is the lead developer in the Daneshouse, Duke Bar and Stoneyholme areas of the Elevate East Lancashire regeneration programme and specialises in housing-led urban regeneration.

Faye Whiteoak, Gleeson Development Manager, said: "We are keen to work closely with the communities within which we operate and we were glad to be able to support Springfield Community School's grounds initiative. We have a passion for delivering quality, sustainable regeneration and helping to create neighbourhoods where people choose to live. As schools play such an important role we were delighted to be able to help."

Springfield Community Primary School's grounds project kicked off late last year with school children designing floor tiles with an artist which were placed at the school entrance. A working party of staff and local people have put together the long term plan to create and maintain the gardens, orchard and raised beds.