Ashperton Primary Outdoor Classroom - Hideout Hut

Welcome!             

We would love to provide our 

pupils with an outdoor classroom.

Take a look at our plans for the Hideout Hut, an innovative outdoor classroom focusing on promoting student wellbeing, educating on renewable energy and enriching the curriculum at Ashperton Primary Academy. 

Please pledge your support today and be part of our exciting project!

Aviva will match your donation pound for pound up to £250 ( per unique donation).

About us 

The Friends of Ashperton - a passionate PTA group dedicated to supporting the needs of the pupils of Ashperton Primary Academy, Herefordshire.

The charity's aim is to raise funds to enhance the learning experience as well as extra-curricular activities for all children of Ashperton Primary.

"Let nature be your teacher” William Wordsworth 

The Project

Explore the Benefits of the Hideout Hut

Our School Council - a group of pupils in our school, elected by their fellow classmates to represent them and their views - has identified the need for a peaceful outdoor space to support education and wellbeing.

The Hideout Hut will support emotional wellbeing and mental health of our pupils, offering children a quiet place to be away from the hustle and bustle of a busy play area. This space would also be used by staff trained in Emotional Literacy Support, to meet with and support individuals or small groups. 

Why this outdoor classroom is essential

• Enhance Student Wellbeing: Offers a tranquil space for reflection and support.
• Curriculum Integration: Supports subjects such as art, science, and technology, using our wildflower meadow and planned cob oven.
• Real-World Learning: Engages students with renewable energy through a solar and wind power pack.

The Structure 

A 6m redwood pine octagonal hut - a versatile learning space with capacity for               35 pupils and staff - seamlessly integrating with nature.

The design of the building lends itself to outdoor learning. The simple desks inside the structure would provide a useful work surface and help keep resources and children (!) safe and dry.

The canvas windows provide protection from the elements, enabling year-round usage.

The access ramp would support parents with strollers or users with mobility issues, offering independent and easy access to the building.

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it" David Sobel

Our Vision

The Hideout Hut will play a key role in supporting education on climate change and the importance of renewable energy.  It will support children in outdoor learning and interacting with nature which will greatly improve their wellbeing. 

It would support our curriculum based on our wildflower meadow restoration project, supported by Herefordshire Meadows. Our meadow provides a resource for art and science activities, including sweep netting for insects, plant sampling, pond dipping, photography, data collection and our daily 'Welly Walk' around the meadow.

It would be used to support food technology and social experiences through use of a planned adjacent cob oven.

Incorporating real wildlife experiences into our curriculum has already provided our children with real 'Wow' moments. Examples of this are our bird box and our wildlife cameras. This classroom would enhance this work.

Education on Climate Change

Renewable Energy Pack with monitoring panel, solar and wind power

The pack includes an educational solar panel and wind turbine, energy monitoring board with two power points and data-logger system. The energy generated by the solar panel and wind turbine is stored in panel-mounted batteries, enabling children to charge their laptops & tablets using the two sockets provided.

Teaching our children about renewable energy early on will help them make informed choices as consumers and responsible citizens, understanding the environmental effects of their energy use.

Learning about renewable energy will instil a sense of environmental stewardship in students. They will investigate climate change, ecosystem protection, and the vital role of renewable energy in safeguarding the planet.

Discussing renewable energy will encourage our pupils to see the link between energy consumption and environmental health, fostering critical thinking about their habits and the impact on the Earth.

The renewable energy pack would enable pupils to explore solar power and wind power as potential energy solutions through data collection.

Incorporating this renewable energy pack with its solar panel, wind turbine and monitoring panel into our curriculum would spark creativity and improve the children's problem-solving abilities, preparing them for future careers while motivating them to tackle global issues, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable world.

How you can help:

Your generous donation will make a difference:

• £160 funds a canvas window panel.
• £240 covers the canvas door panel.
• £150 provides an access ramp.
• £250 purchases a bench and desk.
• £2,500 funds a pizza cob oven and shelter.
• £3,000 acquires the renewable energy pack.

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to realising this dream for our children.

Mini Giving Tree and Plaque Display

To show our gratitude and as a token of our appreciation, we'll be creating a special mini giving tree display in the Hideout Hut at our school.

Donations of £10 or more: Mini leaf with child’s name engraved; 1 leaf = 1 name,  4cm x 3cm. (only 100 available)

Donations of £50 or more: Family leaf with your names engraved; 15cm x 10cm.   

Significant contributions of £250 or more: Acknowledgement plaque on a bench, desk or window.

Please indicate your choice (Mini/Family/Plaque) and the name/s for engraving when donating by leaving a comment or emailing us.

This is our way of recognizing your support, not a formal reward. 

Please note that the acknowledgment doesn't affect Aviva's match funding, which applies to all eligible donations up to £250 per unique supporter.

"Look deep into nature, and you will understand everything better"  Albert Einstein

Our achievements

Thanks to our past fundraising events such as the Summer Fete, the Christmas Fair, Quiz Night, Bonfire and our School Campout -  we have funded new iPads, wildlife cameras, magazine subscriptions, a science dome and also made substantial contributions towards the annual school Panto trip, Young Voices and the London outing. 

The Hideout Hut 

This project is much larger than anything we previously funded. The target of £15,000 would mean years of fundraising without being able to support any of our usual annual activities and experiences.

The Hideout Hut will give the children of Ashperton the opportunity to spend more quality time outdoors. Hopefully inspiring a love for nature and the environment, improving their physical and mental wellbeing by reducing stress and anxiety, giving them a better understanding of the environment and how to look after it.

Your generous contribution will take us a step closer to fulfilling the children’s wish for an outdoor learning space. A space that will inspire creativity and nurture a love for the outdoors. A space to be enjoyed for many years to come.

Every donation, no matter the size, will be gratefully received and will contribute significantly to the success of our campaign, and for that we thank you!

The Friends of Ashperton