Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Site gains environmental award

Councillors with children and teachers from Brimrod Primary School, holding their award from North West In Bloom

Roch Valley Outdoor Learning Site gained an environmental award at the North West In Bloom finals held in Southport.

The site, which is situated on Roch Valley Way, Sudden, gained a Level Five (Outstanding) in the environmental and community awards category.

It is the third year on the run that the site, which is run by the Roch Valley Educational Parntership, has won an award.

The Partnership consists of five local schools: Matthew Moss High, Brimrod, Marland Hill, Castleton and St Edwards Primary Schools

Roy Down, the Outdoor Learning Co-ordinator for the site said: ''It is yet more recognition for the hard work that the schools and the Countryside Rangers put into developing the site. We have come a long way after first moving onto the site in the winter of 2012/13.''

Hundreds of school children and college students along with many adults have benefited from the site being turned from waste land, plagued by fly-tipping, into a first class educational learning area.

Mr Down added: ''The outdoor learning site also features on the Rochdale Township In Bloom route as part of the NW In Bloom Awards and has contributed to this year’s success when Rochdale won a Gold Award for the first time in five years.''

Daniel Hall, co-founder of the site, said: ''The Roch Valley site has come a long way since we first started the project and it will not have been possible if we didn't have the support of the schools involved and the local Bamford Ward councillors.

“We have also received tremendous support from Bob Bevan from the Countryside Rangers.

“Recently we have had a few setbacks due to fly tipping over the past year and we would like to ask whoever is responsible to please bear in mind all the hard work that has been put into the site and that this site is used by young children for educational purposes.”