Member Article

School's out as Leeds pupils enjoy a day of adventure

Children from Park Spring Primary School in Leeds have enjoyed a very special day out – thanks to the generosity of an Ilkley property company.

Instead of their usual classroom activities, 120 children from all of Park Spring’s classes spent the day at Nell Bank Outdoor Activity Centre in Ilkley.

They tackled a number of team-building challenges, had fun with adventurous games and enjoyed the freedom of the giant climbing and play area.

Jeremy Nolan of Ilkley-based Glentrool Capital Partners, who organised the trip, explained: “We have now been sponsoring the Nell Bank outing since 2009 and believe it is a tremendously worthwhile cause. The sense of joy and wonder on the children’s faces as they experience the countryside, some for the first time, is priceless.

“This year we had a little help from our friends, with sponsorship support from property consultancy Fox Lloyd Jones, architects KPP and lawyers Freeths. This meant we were able to double the number of children who could enjoy a day out at Nell Bank, which was very special. I’d like to thank our co-sponsors for helping to deliver a truly memorable day, one which many of Park Spring’s children will never forget.”

Gavin Beevers of Fox Lloyd Jones said: “We are delighted to have supported Glentrool’s initiative. It’s so rewarding to know that our sponsorship allowed children from Park Spring Primary School in Leeds to have a great day of fun and activities in the beautiful countryside at Nell Bank in Wharfedale.”

Dan Goodey, Head of Centre at Nell Bank, commented: “We were delighted to welcome Park Spring Primary school to the centre for the second time. It was clear to see how much the children enjoyed the visit, and great to see many of the children participating with their brothers and sisters and supporting each other whilst they were here.

“Outdoor learning opportunities are so important for children’s development and I hope that the visit to Nell Bank will have a positive and long lasting impact on them”.

“Nell Bank have worked with Glentrool for a number of years to support schools who might not otherwise be able visit the centre. This successful scheme, pioneered by Glentrool, is something the centre is now expanding. Using the format developed by Glentrool we are inviting other organisations to get involved to ensure that as many children as possible can have access to outdoor learning opportunities.”

Louise Chapman of Park Spring Primary School commented: “We were delighted to be able to offer 120 of our most vulnerable children the opportunity to go to Nell Bank, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Glentrool and their associates.

“Many of these children simply do not get the opportunity to explore nature in their home lives, and this day filled their memory banks with an appreciation for and education about natural habitats. The children absolutely loved it and it was a privilege to take them and see them so enthused in their outdoor learning.

“They particularly loved pond dipping; taking great delight in finding newts, water boatmen and many other creatures. Some children were quite nervous about hunting for and handling mini beasts but they soon overcame their fears. The water play area and the adventure playground too were a huge hit with the children.

“Some of these children have social, emotional and mental health needs and it was wonderful to see them come to life, seemingly care-free and full of boundless energy and enthusiasm for the whole experience. The staff at Nell Bank were brilliant at engaging and educating our children and making the learning so full of fun.

“I would like to thank Jeremy and Glentrool so much for giving our children such a positive experience. It was also lovely to see how siblings worked so well together, something they would not normally get to do in the school day,” added Louise.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .