Volunteers transform Pudsey Southroyd Primary’s nature-connected outdoor area and playground

Volunteers from Yorkshire Water’s £36 million Pudsey Beck project have been improving the outdoor spaces at Pudsey Southroyd Primary School to welcome more nature to the school grounds and help support play and outdoor learning.  

In partnership with Bradford-based non-profit, Participate Projects, colleagues from Yorkshire Water, Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks, Mott MacDonald Bentley, Peter Duffy Ltd. and Tilbury Douglas spent a day volunteering to improve the school's outdoor area for when the children return after the Easter break.   

The volunteers created a new woodchip outdoor play area for the nursery, built handmade wooden benches for outdoor classroom areas in the woodland, and constructed a bird hide to encourage children to get closer to nature. Tilbury Douglas has also been doing some tree maintenance in the school grounds. 

Materials for the works were generously donated by Tilbury Douglas, CPC Civils, RedRox Quarry Products Ltd., Scott Parnell and Travis Perkins. 

Justine Pearson, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity, along with our contract partners, to support Pudsey Southroyd Primary School and give them a new nature-connected outdoor area and playground. 

“We have a number of improvement projects underway in and around Pudsey, which we appreciate can be disruptive to the community at times, so it’s really important to us to give back where we can and help get children in the outdoors and enjoying nature.” 

The Yorkshire Water education team has been working with a number of other primary and secondary schools in the area delivering Lego, Hey Girls and careers sessions. The team also welcomes schools to the Education Centre at Headingley Water Treatment Works, where Pudsey Southroyd students attend every year as part of their water cycle curriculum. 

Kate Prior, headteacher at Pudsey Southroyd Primary School, said: “On behalf of the entire school community, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for the voluntary time, energy, expertise and dedication. The enthusiasm and commitment to improving our outdoor spaces means our children will have enhanced learning opportunities that will help them be the best they can be.  

“The unique collaboration and teamwork we witnessed is in line with our school values and has provided further inspiration for our children and community to become Active Citizens themselves in the future.” 

Pudsey Beck Investment 

The volunteer work is part of Yorkshire Water’s £36 million investment in four projects across west Leeds and Bradford to improve water quality in Pudsey Beck and reduce discharges from storm overflows during heavy rainfall. 

The four projects include: 

• Additional storm water storage at Pudsey Smalewell, Pudsey  
• Additional storm water storage off Dick Lane, Thornbury, Bradford  
• New storm water storage at Farnley Ring Road, Bradford 
• The creation of a 4.7-hectare integrated constructed wetland at a disused Yorkshire Water site at Hough Side, Pudsey 

The volunteers were joined on the day by local Cllr Trish Smith, who said: “It was so heartwarming to walk into the grounds of Southroyd School and see such a hive of activity. 

“There must have been around 30 people from across Yorkshire Water and their subsidiaries, all working together helping our amazing community. Many of their suppliers had donated the materials too - it was like our very own Pudsey DIY SOS. 

“My very sincere thanks to all those who worked so hard, those who worked with me to set the day up and to all the school staff for being so accommodating. Once the children return from their Easter break, I hope they’re as proud as I am of the incredible changes made by everyone’s hard work and enjoy the benefits of this for years to come.”