A new mud kitchen and reading den have been created at a playgroup and preschool in Tewkesbury thanks to support from two businesses.
Children at the Little Foxes Playgroup, which is associated to The John Moore Primary School, have been enjoying learning in a new outdoor kitchen.
The kitchen gives the children a chance to develop life skills and encourages using the environment to cook up culinary delights like lavender soup and mud cupcakes.
It was constructed by Daniel Webb, Chair of Governors at The John Moore Primary School, after timber and materials were donated by house-builder Bloor Homes and Midlands-based developer Deeley Construction.
The materials donated were also used to create a reading den, which will be used by children aged three to four in the pre-school.
Daniel Webb built both structures off-site and then they were transported free-of-charge to Little Foxes Playgroup by Tewkesbury-based Robert Express Delivery (RED).
He made a further mud kitchen for the Rising 3s room pre-school room.
Little Foxes Playgroup is a registered charity and will become part of The John Moore Primary School in September 2022.
Bronwen Williams, Early Years manager at Little Foxes Playgroup, said: “We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of Daniel, Bloor Homes, Deeley Construction and RED to help us create this new space at Little Foxes.
“It will be a great resource to support our children and the children have made a card to say thank you as well. They are absolutely loving using it and are in it every day, with the reading den proving hugely popular with pre-schoolers too.
“We’re a registered charity and to fund a project like this would have taken a large chunk of our community funds.
“The mud kitchen gives children a chance to take learning outside and in a natural environment – and learn skills like mixing, and provide further learning opportunities for maths, literacy and all areas of the Early Years curriculum.
“Coupled with the reading den, they both enhance our education delivery in a fun way and we really appreciate everyone that has supported us.”
Deeley Construction, which is headquartered in Coventry, is currently building a new 18,000 sq ft regional office for Bloor Homes in Tewkesbury.
Martin Gallagher, managing director at Deeley Construction, said: “This is the first time we have worked in Tewkesbury and we always look to make a positive impact in the communities we work in.
“We heard that Little Foxes Playgroup needed some support with material and were delighted to help with a donation of timber. We hope the children enjoy using this great new facility.”
It is the second time that Bloor Homes has supported The John Moore Primary School, having donated materials to create a similar mud kitchen and forest school at the school site in 2020.
Steve Roberts, Managing Director at Bloor Homes’ Western region said: “We’re always pleased to support local schools and playgroups in the areas we work and build in – thank you to Deeley for partnering with us here in Tewkesbury. We are really pleased the children are enjoying their new kitchen and reading den.”
