The garden at New Seaham Academy was created by contractors working with not-for-profit housing association Believe Housing and includes a wooden gazebo, fit trail, picnic tables, wildlife habitats, raised beds, and quiet areas.
Steve Bilton, headteacher at New Seaham Academy, said: “Our new wellbeing garden will be a huge benefit to the pupils of New Seaham Academy; both in terms of being a vibrant learning space and a safe, secure area in which they can take breaks and consider their wellbeing.
Garden thanks: Headteacher Steve Bilton and pupils at New Seaham Academy thank Faye Gordon and Andrea Baxter, from believe housing, and Rachel McMullen and Jonathan Horner, from RE:GEN Group, for bringing their school garden back to life through a social (Image: believe housing)
“We are immensely grateful for the work of believe housing who have turned a long-neglected space into a purposeful area our pupils can enjoy for years to come.”
The transformation, worth around £16,000, was carried out by RE:GEN Group, with support from Sunter.
Outdoor haven: Pupils at New Seaham Academy in their rejuvenated school garden. (Image: believe housing)
Faye Gordon, executive director of finance and investment at believe housing, said: “It’s been brilliant to see the finished space and hear what it means to the school.
“We’re proud to have supported something that brings real benefits to pupils and the wider community.
“It’s a great example of how we can work together to create places that support wellbeing and make a lasting difference, something that’s really important to us at believe housing.”
The garden project is part of the be:ONE partnership, a collaboration between believe housing, Buston & Maughan Group, RE:GEN Group, and Sunter Limited.
The new garden (Image: believe housing)
The partnership aims to deliver home improvements and maximise social value through collaboration, local investment and shared goals.
Jonathan Horner, managing director of RE:GEN Group, said: “It’s fantastic to see children making the most of the new garden, exploring the bug hotels, enjoying the play areas, and spending time in the quiet and educational spaces.
“Projects like this are exactly why we’re proud to support social value initiatives.
“We’re working in believe housing homes across the area, so it’s great for families to see and feel the wider impact we’re making together in their communities.”
As part of the partnership, believe housing, RE:GEN, and Sunter also organised a careers day at the school, introducing pupils to roles in construction, health and safety, project management, environmental work, and the trades.
The event aimed to inspire children by showing them the range of job opportunities available within the sector.
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