A year has passed since the devastating floods that left part of Thrumpton Primary Academy grounds unusable. Thanks to the kindness and efforts of local businesses, our beloved wildlife garden has now been restored to its former glory.

After the floodwaters receded, the area lay untouched, overrun with weeds and unusable. Our Thurmpton team reached out to the community, and West Burton Energy of Retford answered the call. As part of their ‘Helping Hands’ project, a team of volunteers gave up their time to help clear the school’s wildlife garden. Their hard work has transformed the once-wild space into a beautiful outdoor haven for the children.

The volunteers didn’t stop at clearing the garden. West Burton Energy also donated a range of wonderful items, including bug hotels, hedgehog houses, a bat house, seeds, and wheelbarrows. They even gifted books for the school library, further enriching the pupils learning experience.

Principal, Rebecca Hurley expressed her gratitude: “It is a year since the ‘great flood’. It is hard to think back to everything that we have overcome together as a team and community. We are so proud of how Team Thrumpton has continued to flourish and be a great place for our children to learn and grow. A huge thank you to team West Burton for your time, generosity and hard work.”

The restored garden now features planting beds where children can grow herbs and vegetables, creating opportunities for hands-on learning. It will also serve as a space for activities like den building, encouraging outdoor play and exploration.

Special thanks are also due to Firbeck Construction Ltd, who generously hired out the tools needed to complete the job. Their contribution helped make this transformation possible.

Thanks to these generous local businesses and volunteers, Thrumpton’s wildlife garden is once again a space where children can connect with nature, learn, and thrive. The school community couldn’t be more thankful for the support.