A cold December morning found the Evenlode team on a very muddy building site which is to be the future home of The Oxford Trust’s science innovation and education centre.
The site is called Stansfeld Park and it will be the UK’s first indoor-outdoor science education centre designed specifically for early years and primary-aged children, their teachers and their families.
The centre sits on 18 acres of woodland which will enable young children to explore the natural world and learn about environmental science and biodiversity, it’s all about bringing problem solving and scientific enquiry out of the classroom and into the great outdoors.
The Evenlode team had volunteered to spend the day clearing a small part of the 18-acre site. This involved cutting down trees, clearing vegetation and installing a series of steps and handrails from the grassland area to one of the woodland hollows to enable greater access to the site. The team also planted an oak tree which will bear an Evenlode plaque.
The team had a great day working alongside the Oxford Trust’s head ecologist Dr Roger Baker, Paul Dryden, Director of Development at the Oxford Trust, and Phil Hunter and Tim Bletsoe, members of the Oxford Conservation Volunteers (OCV).
Along with donating their time, Evenlode is supporting the development of the education centre by donating £30,000 over three years.
Stansfeld Park will be opening in Spring 2019 and Evenlode hope to visit the site again to see how the work has progressed.
