Students spend grant in Springfield Park

Lancs & Cheshire Woodcarvers plaque presentation

Pupils from Matthew Moss High School have received a grant from the Rochdale In Bloom committee. The students decided to spend the grant in Springfield Park, in recognition of all the outdoor learning activities that that the school carries out in the park.

Roy Down, the Environmental Technician from Matthew Moss, approached Lancashire and Cheshire Woodcarvers, who are based in Rochdale, and asked them if they could design some wood plaques for public display. The plaques, featuring carvings of animals, will be placed around the medieval mere in the park for people to admire. Terry Costigan from the Countryside Rangers said: "they will make a fantastic addition to the park and add to the many wonderful improvements taking place."

Matthew Moss students use the park for lots of subjects including science, geography, ecological projects, flora and fauna studies and physical education.

Mr Down added: "Springfield Park is right on our doorstep and we use the park for lots of curriculum work. We even use the park for work with our primary school partners. Last week pupils from St Edward', Castleton helped students from Matthew Moss to create a wildflower meadow, supervised by Countryside Rangers Terry Costigan and Mike Cummings.

"The park has seen some tremendous improvements recently and most of this is down to the tremendous enthusiasm of the Friends of Springfield Park working closely with various RMBC departments, the Green Volunteers and ranger, Terry Costigan.

"The school has a brilliant working relationship with the Friends of Springfield Park and the Countryside Rangers, making the park a wonderful educational facility."

The wood carvings were presented to the Friends of Springfield Park and accepted on their behalf by Terry Costigan from the Countryside Rangers and Roy Down, Environmental Technician from Matthew Moss High School.

The plaques are to be mounted on special stakes and will be installed in several different places around the medieval mere in Springfield Park by Terry Costigan.