St Margaret’s School Ifield

Teckwood provided recycled timber decking for St Margaret’s School’s new wetland area.

The mission of St Margaret’s Primary School is centred on providing the best education possible for its children. The original idea for a wetlands area was to add another learning environment for the pupils to link in with the science curriculum and to make the most of the grounds within the school premises.

Teckwood was chosen through its links with the community, as the company has its headquarters and distribution centre locally. The anti-slip decking is ideal due to the nature of the area and the safety of the pupils. Teckwood, known for their commitment to sustainable building through using fully recycled timber and recycled HDPE throughout its product range provided the decking.

A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem. The primary factor that distinguishes wetlands from other land forms or water bodies is the characteristic vegetation of aquatic plants, adapted to the unique hydric soil. Wetlands play a number of roles in the environment, principally water purification, flood control, carbon sink and shoreline stability. Wetlands are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life.

Rebekah Blondell, Assistant Headteacher, said “The children benefit as the wetlands support their science learning and it provides greater richness of habitats and animals to learn through first hand experience. The wetlands are also used as part of St Margaret’s curriculum. The habitat has already attracted a range of wildlife and the ecosystem is establishing”.