New outdoor reading garden inspired by a pupil’s design has been created at Harborough primary school

Pupils at a Market Harborough primary school are looking forward to enjoying a new outdoor reading garden after a housebuilder chipped in to help bankroll it.

The vibrant open air space has been created at Great Bowden Academy after the school was handed £2,000 by Redrow South Midlands.

Boasting a sensory trail, the new attraction, inspired by a pupil’s design, also enables children to learn about plants, flowers and animals.

Rebecca Blagburn, Head of School at Great Bowden Academy, said: “Our school has always championed reading.

“So it’s wonderful to be able to offer our pupils a comfortable and interactive space for them to read, while also stimulating their senses and broadening their knowledge of the natural world.”

She added: “The reading garden has given us additional outdoor space which has been incredibly useful over the past few months.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to the Redrow team for their generous donation, as well as other local organisations who kindly supported us.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming children in the wider Bowden Chase community to use the garden space in the future.”

Suzanne Irons, sales director for Redrow South Midlands, which has the Bowden Chase development in Great Bowden, Market Harborough, said: “Reading is a cornerstone of our education, but it also opens up a world of knowledge and imagination to children.

“The team at Great Bowden Academy presented us with an ambitious project: to build a reading garden designed by one of their pupils and create a peaceful space to read and learn.”

She added: “We are thrilled to be able to help them bring their vision to life.

“Here at Redrow South Midlands, we always strive to create thriving communities and schools form a large part of this.

“We couldn’t be prouder to play a part in these children’s learning and the school’s future as a whole.”