Youngsters at a Gwynedd primary school turned a \u00a3200 donation into a hands-on-building project that saw pupils create their own outdoor furniture.<\/p>\n
Ysgol Borth y Gest, near Porthmadog, won the cash after being selected as the winner of an online competition run by storage firm Lock Stock Self Storage which has a site in the town.<\/p>\n
Instead of spending the money on ready-made benches and tables for the school\u2019s forest school area, headteacher Nia Jones came up with a different idea.<\/p>\n
She wanted pupils to gain practical skills and experience by helping to build the furniture themselves.<\/p>\n
The donation from Lock Stock, together with additional funding from the school\u2019s Parent Teacher Association, paid for the materials to make four benches and two tables.<\/p>\n
It also funded a woodworking workshop led by joiner Hefin Hughes, giving the children the chance to get hands-on with the project from start to finish.<\/p>\n
Lock Stock Self Storage regional manager Lee Hanson attended the workshop to see the youngsters in action, while Erynne Watson, who leads the school\u2019s forest school sessions, was also there to\u00a0see the\u00a0benches and tables put into place.<\/p>\n
Headteacher Nia Jones said: \u201cI just thought this would be an opportunity to give the children another learning experience, rather than just buying the stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they have been part of the building\u00a0of it,\u00a0I think\u00a0the children will look after\u00a0the furniture\u00a0a bit better and take more pride\u00a0in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis also allows the children to understand the process\u00a0and also\u00a0the journey of how wood is used.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe children loved taking part in the sessions to build the benches and tables,\u00a0they have all been involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love taking part in everything to be honest, they are always enthusiastic about everything we throw at them and they always\u00a0give their best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are\u00a0very grateful\u00a0to Lock Stock Self Storage for the donation, we are delighted they have supported our little, local school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee Hanson said he was hugely\u00a0impressed by the children\u2019s enthusiasm\u00a0in\u00a0building the benches and tables.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a great idea to have the children take such\u00a0an active part in creating the furniture,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0much more fun than just buying the benches and tables.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives the children a chance to learn new things and be really hands-on.<\/p>\n
\u201cLock Stock is a company which is part of every community we serve\u00a0and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0lovely to see how this donation is being used to not only provide something for the\u00a0school, but\u00a0also create a new learning experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the children have never held a drill before and they have really enjoyed it and enjoyed\u00a0getting stuck in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can be very proud\u00a0of how they have helped create something so useful for the school.\u201d<\/p>\n
The forest school sessions are held on a weekly\u00a0basis on land next to the\u00a0school\u00a0and\u00a0Ms Jones\u00a0said they had quickly become a firm\u00a0favourite\u00a0among the children.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cFor us, the forest school sessions are the best part of the week.<\/p>\n
\u201cErynne has been leading the sessions for us for three years now and they are honestly the highlight\u00a0of the\u00a0children’s\u00a0week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefits of forest school learning include the wellness of the children and just being out in the\u00a0fresh air, it just makes all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erynne Watson,\u00a0who runs\u00a0outdoor learning\u00a0company\u00a0Ysbrydoli\u00a0Gan\u00a0Natur\u00a0(Inspired\u00a0By\u00a0Nature), said: \u201cForest school\u00a0principles\u00a0are very much based on child-led learning in nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives the children opportunities to experience and measure their own risks, so they get to be hands-on with hand tools and do\u00a0whittling, woodcarving,\u00a0pruning\u00a0and woodland management.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can build rope-swings, dens, all those kinds of things, and enjoy the outdoors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benches will be\u00a0seated around\u00a0our fire circle\u00a0space\u00a0which is our main meeting point, weather permitting we always have an open fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0children have the experience of how to light\u00a0a fire using fire strikers, they learn about fire safety and how to be responsible when it comes to fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tables will be fantastic for this\u00a0school\u00a0in particular, because\u00a0they are very much into their crafting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the donation from Lock Stock is fantastic, very generous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hefin Hughes, who runs\u00a0woodworking workshops in schools\u00a0through his company\u00a0Blagur\u00a0Coed, said: \u201cIt was a joy to be at\u00a0the school\u00a0and\u00a0working\u00a0with the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all showed some good skills in drilling, screwing, measuring\u00a0and marking and working as a team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great to see the tables and benches being used for the forest school \u2013 it’s\u00a0what they are made for really, to be in the surroundings of the forest school.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pupils said they thoroughly enjoyed building the furniture.<\/p>\n
Oti, 10, said: \u201cIt was\u00a0really good\u00a0to build the tables and benches, especially because they will be used in our forest school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really like forest school, especially the arts and crafts we do there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to be outside, it makes a change from being in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aveline, 11, said: \u201cI really liked helping build the benches and tables.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really liked that we are able to\u00a0drill things, I have never used a drill before, so it was\u00a0good fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like forest school, especially\u00a0because we are able to play with our friends out in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
The donation from Denbigh-based Lock Stock Self Storage\u00a0comes as the expanding firm continues to support the communities it serves.<\/p>\n
Founded in 2000, Lock Stock has over 5,700 storage units providing more than five million cubic feet of space at more than 35 storage parks across North and Mid Wales, the border counties and the north west.<\/p>\n
For information about Lock Stock Self Storage, including off-site container hire, contact them on 01745 817178 or go to <\/strong>https:\/\/lockstock.biz\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n