School Receives £10,000 Grant to Transform Grey Space into Green Oasis
By Education Editor
Chilton Trinity School in Bridgwater, Somerset (part of the Futura Learning Partnership), has secured a £10,000 grant from the National Education Nature Park to transform a grey, underutilised area of the school grounds into a thriving green space.
The project, inspired by the stunning Oudolf Field at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton, will create a beautiful new gravel garden promoting well-being, sustainability, and community engagement.
Mrs Blunsum, Assistant Headteacher and project lead, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant—it’s a fantastic opportunity to turn a dull, grey area into a vibrant green space that will benefit both our students and the wider community.
“This project is about more than just a garden—it’s about fostering sustainability, improving well-being, and creating a lasting legacy for future generations.”
The garden’s design will be heavily influenced by renowned Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, with plans to include a ‘nectar bar’ to support pollinators and enhance local biodiversity.
Once complete, the space will serve as a tranquil retreat for students and staff while also providing a welcoming environment for the local community.
The school’s success was partly thanks to Paula Malone from Let’s Go Zero, who highlighted the funding opportunity. Since then, Mrs Blunsum has collaborated closely with Ella Boston from South West Nature Park, who has also linked Northgate Primary School to a similar grant.
In addition to the garden project, the school’s Eco-Team has been busy attending workshops delivered by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS).
The insights from these sessions will be incorporated into Chilton Trinity’s Climate Action Plan, which Paula Malone initiated during her visit last term.
“Our students are leading the way,” Mrs Blunsum said. “They’ve come back from these workshops with fresh ideas, and we’re weaving those into our action plan to create lasting change across the school.”
Further sustainability initiatives are already underway. The school is preparing to launch a Lunch Club in collaboration with its catering team, focusing on reducing food waste and cutting the school’s carbon footprint.
They are also working with BAM FM (PFI) to improve waste management and recycling in line with the new Simpler Recycling Guidance.
In a further boost to their green ambitions, free fruit trees from The Tree Council will arrive next week.
The school is also reaching out to the local community for help in bringing the garden vision to life. They are seeking design expertise, materials, and volunteers to assist with planting.
“We would love to hear from anyone with experience in gardening, landscape design, or sustainable practices,” said Mrs Blunsum.
“We’re also planning to set up a community garden club, which will care for a polytunnel and grow food crops—providing an opportunity for people to connect, learn, and combat loneliness.”
An Eco-Summit Day, which is already fully planned, will showcase all these initiatives and align with the learning objectives from the Trust-wide Climate Curriculum, which Mrs Blunsum will lead to inspire climate awareness across the school community.
For those interested in contributing, please contact Mrs Blunsum on 01278 425222
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