To return to our main school website, click here

Installing the pathway

Planning

Having now cleared the forest area into various spaces, connected by runways for the children to connect the various areas together, we realised that in order to access the area safely, and to make use of the natural topography that allows us to see the town of Ballynahinch and the surrounding area, plus to use the already established Hazelwood trees on the hillside below the forest, that we needed to connect to the main school pathway (at the P1 entrance door).

We are very blessed to have such a supportive group of parents within our PTA, and having shared our vision for how this space could be used by our children, and indeed the wider community. Having taken the opportunity to share our vision for how we could best use this space, the PTA gifted the school the required money to begin to install a gravel pathway from the school, through the forest, and back again.

It should be noted, that the route our path would take, complete with viewing area was suggested by our P7 children, who helped staff measure out the distance that would need to be dug out.

Second Forest School Area is completed!

However, not content to have just the one area for our children to use, we also focused our efforts on creating an area for our Nursery children to use which is much closer to their area within our school. This space will also be used by our Nature Ramblers club, as an after-school activity each Friday with the children who attend our Wrap-Around Care programme.

Digging!

Wednesday 9th October

After putting the plan out to tender, we were able to accept the bid for work proposed through the EA Grounds Maintenance service. The digger and dumper arrived on Wednesday, and the initial pathway was completed within two days!

Putting down the gravel to give easy access to the forest

The 'dumper' arrived on Monday 14th October, and was immediately put to work transporting the gravel from the carpark up into the work site.

The majority of our site is set on the slopes behind Montalto Estate, so as such, care was needed to make sure the material was dropped at the right spot.

By the 18th October, the majority, the gravel had been laid. The men used a vibrating plate to help solidify the pathway and make it easier to walk on.