Siemens team creates 'thinking garden' for a local primary school

A team from Bradford-based Siemens Mechanical Drives has created a ‘Thinking Garden’ for children at St Winefrides Catholic Primary School in Wibsey. The 10-strong team, comprising engineers, apprentices and staff – from the gearbox specialist on Leeds Road, began on site at the school at 8.00am and completed the new garden at 6.30pm the same day.

The school’s assistant head teacher, Helen Christopher, was delighted with the results: “This corner has been transformed for the children and is now a really welcoming area for them, whether for sitting and reading, or for playing. We’re very grateful to the Siemens team for creating this for us.”

Team leader Richard Durham cajoled several local suppliers into selling products at discounted cost, and was keen to credit Arch Building Supplies (for supplying hardcore at cost), Ian Craven Property Maintenance (for making the planters), Local Building Supplies (decking, sleepers, weed membrane, mulch) and Palmer Plants for an excellent selection of annual and perennial plants and advice on what to plant. He described the project: “The day was quite a challenge as we filled a skip with rubbish before laying 10 tonnes of hardcore to stabilise the surface. We then fixed planters into position, made and fitted benches, and planted a variety of shrubs. We were kept stoked up with cups of tea throughout the day from school staff!”

The Siemens team comprised Richard Durham, Chris Myers, John Whitworth, Mark Paley, Mike Peate, Adam France, Richard Birkbeck, Dave Pratt, Martin Cox and Nick Garthwaite. Nick Garthwaite said the Siemens team were planning to carry out more voluntary schemes in the Bradford area in due course.

ENDS
PHOTO (l-r): Martin Cox, Mark Paley, Nick Garthwaite, Dave Pratt, Chris Myers, Richard Birkbeck, Adam France, Richard Durham, John Whitworth from Siemens with children in the new ‘Thinking Garden’
PHOTO-CAPTION: Children from St Winefrides enjoy reading their books in the new ‘Thinking Garden’ created by the Siemens team, pictured