A coalition of community members and keyworkers has transformed a neglected area of the River Brent Canal into a beautiful outdoor classroom for local schoolchildren.
Local teacher Deborah St Cyr first spotted the derelict area next to the canal when visiting Gibbons Recreation Ground. “I immediately saw the potential for my students to be able to use this area to enhance the curriculum and learn about natural habitats and plants but also to provide a space where children can be surrounded by nature.”
Keyworkers from the council and Veolia, volunteers from the Canal Trust and parents and students from Leopold Gwenneth Rickus Primary School rallied behind Deborah’s initiative to pick up litter from the canal and banks, turning it into a safer place for young people to enjoy.
Alongside the clean-up event, officers taught students about the importance of putting rubbish in the bin and our responsibility to keep wildlife safe and respect the local area.