The KIDS COUNTRY team are moving on with development of a rural education area at the East of England Showground with support from PECT and the Central England Co-Operative.
In January arguably the biggest willow maze in the country was planted as part of the Forest for Peterborough scheme in collaboration with PECT staff and 70 volunteers from Perkins Engines.
Within two years this will be in use as a wonderful fun and learning resource for all ages. After finding their way around the puzzle and being inspired by willow structures along the way, children will be able to have a go at crafting with willow up at the thatched barn learning centre. But that’s not all, around the barn a butterfly garden is being developed and a walk from there across between some ponds, the children with find a bee observatory and bird hide, all in place ready for May 2014.
Education manager Sandra Laurisden says “This has all been possible because of the support we have had from Central England Co-Operative. They have a commitment to children’s education and could see how their own initiatives could be developed at the Showground in conjunction with the Kids Country team and the Bee Keepers Association.”
School groups will start to enjoy these new facilities from May. Plans are in hand to add a range of learning resources along a food and farming theme in the barn.