Year 2 children from Boldmere Infant and Nursery School became budding naturalists this week after visiting Churchill Retirement Living’s Steeple Lodge development.
The children were invited by the Lodge to help make their woodland garden more wildlife friendly. Assisting Owners Ron Bott and John Haycock, the children decided on the best place for hedgehog ‘hodgitats’, insect hotels, bird boxes and feeders in the established grounds at the development on Church Road.
Katie Mason, assistant head teacher at Boldmere Infant and Nursery School said: “The children loved helping Ron and John get the grounds ready for winter. They enjoyed hanging the coconut treats for the birds and loved instructing John with where they wanted the bird houses to be hung!
“Children were fascinated as Ron and John explained to the children how different birds had different types of bird houses and they particularly enjoyed looking at the bat boxes and wondering whether there were any inside. To top off a lovely morning the children were given a bird feed stand and bird houses to take back with us and use at school. As soon as the children got back to school they were eager to show the rest of their year group who had also spent the morning gardening.
“It was a lovely opportunity for the children and staff to pop on their old clothes and wellies and get outside and be proactive!”
Abigail Mortiboys, aged seven, said: “I enjoyed meeting the people at Steeple Lodge and finding somewhere for the ladybird towers.”
Cole Williams, aged seven, said: “I liked the hedgehog hotel because I’m in Hedgehog class and we met a hedgehog the other day from the rescue centre.”
Hayley Robinson, marketing executive for Churchill Retirement Living said: “We were delighted to host the children from Boldmere Primary School and we were grateful for their help in making our Steeple Lodge garden somewhere really special for wildlife. The children were absolutely fantastic and we look forward to inviting them back in the spring to see how their project is developing.”
Situated on an old vicarage site, Steeple Lodge in Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, offers a truly unique location and lifestyle. Surrounded by trees and woodlands, the development is quiet and serene with a semi-rural feel, yet it’s only a couple of hundred metres to a busy main road and a short walk to the nearest shops.
Each apartment has been designed for the over 60s and includes a range of specialist features for complete peace of mind, from camera entry systems and 24 hour emergency call lines, to easy-turn lever taps and illuminated light switches. The development offers a range of communal facilities, including an owners’ lounge and guest suite, and there is also an on-site Lodge Manager, who oversees the running of the development.