News

March 2010

PARTNERSHIP WORK COMES TO THE CLASSROOM

Westonbirt School has had, for many years, a very strong link with the Westonbirt Arboretum, sharing the same heritage and being just a mile away.

This year the pupils of years 7 and 8 were given the task of designing the arboretum's Canopy Vantage Point, as the project for their Key Skills Day. 

The Westonbirt Heritage Partnership Project  involves the creation of a tree-top walk-way and pupils were briefed about the project before spending time at the arboretum gathering data.  On returning to school they were assisted by an architect, an engineer and a surveyor before tackling their design, which had to take account of the location, the design and  the structure.This hands on experience gave the pupils a real opportunity to consider a project that they will see developed in the next few years.  Who knows, maybe one of their designs could fulfill the criteria of the brief!

The planned Canopy Vantage Point is part of a larger project which will enable the public to see the Arboretum, the Downs, Westonbirt House and  Pleasure Grounds as never before..  The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the significant role that trees play in the life of the planet as well as giving wider public access to the grounds of Westonbirt School in the holidays.