23-10-2025

Woodland classroom brought back to life by local contractor

School children at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School have had their Forest School restored by local contractors giving back to the community as part of a contract with Blackpool Council.

The much loved outdoor learning space at the school on School Road, Blackpool, is a favourite part of the children’s school day, however persistent issues with flooding had seen the area out of bounds since earlier in the year.

North West contractors George Cox and Sons were happy to help find a solution and get the outside classroom back into a useable condition for the teachers and school children to enjoy again.

George Cox and Sons are the contractor creating the new access road for Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, as part of Blackpool Council’s £18.5m expansion designed to create more jobs in the area.

Blackpool Council asks all their contractors working in the town to help benefit the local community through social value.

George Cox and Sons provided over £4,300 worth of labour and materials to dry out the area and replace the old piping that was causing drainage issues at the bottom of the nearby school playing field with tougher, more durable materials.

Working in collaboration with HRI Groundworks, who supported with a site team, the works were carried out over three full working days in the summer holidays. The updates will ensure the Forest School remains in good condition for the school to enjoy for many years to come.

The outdoor classroom can now be used for a variety of fun activities again, all designed to teach the children outdoor skills and how to help nature thrive. From making dens, enjoying nature walks and creating recipes in the mud kitchen, to planting wildflowers, moving logs with wheelbarrows and building features with tyres, the Forest School offers a unique learning experience for the children.

George Cox and Sons are already in discussions with the school to see what other projects they can help with in the near future.

Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment at Blackpool Council, said:

“We are delighted the contractor and school could work together to get the much loved Forest School fully functioning again. It’s a wonderful initiative that helps take the learning outside the classroom, allowing the children to benefit from new skills and experiences.

“It’s important to us that contractors who are working with us to make Blackpool better, also give back to the local community through social value. That could be by employing locally, helping educate the next generation through apprenticeships or improving community areas.”

Claire Taylor, Headteacher at St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School, added:

“We are thrilled with the work that George Cox and Sons have done here. The Forest School flooded often, meaning that we couldn’t use it in the winter months. The works now mean that our children can access this amazing resource all year round! Our Forest School leader, Mrs H Bartlett, is thrilled that she can plan fabulous activities for our children in the winter months. A huge thank you from our school community for the materials, labour and care they took in their work.”

Matthew Edwards, Director at George Cox and Sons, commented: “It is great to be able to give back to the communities in which we work and this plays a small but important part in our social value agenda. To provide this for a school which has committed to a fabulous facility makes this all the more rewarding.”

The school, which is nearby to the ongoing construction works, were also involved in the project earlier in the year when the school children were chosen to help pick the two new road names – Vickers Way and Hallett Avenue. The names are in keeping with the local tradition to use aviation themed road names.

Once open, the new road will provide a vital connection from Common Edge Road to Blackpool Business Park on Amy Johnson Way. The work also includes widening Common Edge Road and improving the junction at School Road to reduce congestion.

The majority of the works around Common Edge Road are expected to complete later this month, with the new through road to Amy Johnson Way expected to open early next year.

Funding for the road has been supported by a £7.5m grant from the UK Government, as part of the Blackpool Town Deal awarded in  2022.