Date published: 04 May 2023
Stonewater and Countryside Partnerships joined Newlaithes Primary School for the event.
For their first litter pick, held after school on Thursday 27 April 2023, the Horsforth Newlaithes Primary School ‘green team’ of 10 children and their parents were joined by members of both Stonewater and Countryside Partnerships (part of Vistry Group PLC) development teams to help tidy up the area around the school and beyond. All the equipment and PPE needed for the litter pick was donated by partners and suppliers Fletchers, MKM and Multifix.
Countryside Partnerships is currently constructing the Calverley Lane development in Horsforth on Stonewater’s behalf. The new affordable housing site will provide 152 much-needed new homes on the former Leeds City College campus, which is just a few minutes away from the school.
Ian Hebblethwaite, Head of Development for Countryside Partnerships, said: "It was great to get the children from the local school involved in this litter pick, which forms part of our community focus as a local developer. The children did a great job and it’s really heartening to see young people getting involved in improving and maintaining their local community, as well as gaining confidence and having fun."
Jack Bass, Stonewater’s Development Manager, added: "Alongside providing new and much-needed affordable homes, at Stonewater, it’s important for us to get involved with local residents and communities in the areas we’re working in. This was a really fun thing to do, for the children and the adults, and with an important community benefit too."
Newlaithes Primary School has a Green Forum with Green Ambassadors in every class who help to promote green issues. They were recently awarded the Plastic Free Schools Award for reducing plastic use and increasing awareness of plastic pollution. The school is part of the Living Streets Walk to School Challenge, which awards children for green travel to school, helping to promote sustainable travel.
The Calverley Lane site is also the focus of Stonewater’s Blunden Prize, giving artists across the country the opportunity to have their artwork or sculpture displayed at the entrance to the site.