St Mark’s C of E Primary School gets donation from Vistry

The area at St Mark’s C of E Primary School will be used by Year 1 pupils and has been made possible by a donation from the Vistry Group.

The company, which is currently building new homes at Hounsome Fields under its Bovis Homes brand, gifted the school more than £5,000 worth of timber.

This included decking, fence posts and sleepers, which have been used to create an outdoor activity area.

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Pupils from St Mark’s C of E Primary School with the staff from Vistry Thames Valley (Image: Vistry) This area is equipped with sand and water tray tables, a mud kitchen and a den, which has been covered with a large marquee, allowing for year-round use.

Headteacher Charles Applegate said: "We're so grateful for all that Vistry has made possible through the donation.

"It's made a direct impact on the children and what we can offer them at school.

"Vistry has been really helpful and donated so much that we've not been able to use it all just yet.

"However, we have been able to create a fantastic area for our Year 1 children."

The school has also used the donated timber to improve its Forest School area, adding new fences and extra activity equipment.

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The donation included decking, fence posts and sleepers, which have been used to create an outdoor activity area (Image: Vistry) There is still timber remaining, which the school plans to use in the spring to further enhance the Forest School area and other parts of the school's site.

Vistry Thames Valley regional sales director Amber Bowley said: "St Mark’s is just a short distance away from our Hounsome Fields development, so we were pleased to be able to offer them some help with creating the new area for Year 1 pupils and improving the Forest School zone.

"It is very fitting for us as a housebuilder to give them building materials which they can use to create something new and to improve what the school can offer.

"The new area looks great and I’m sure the Year 1 pupils will enjoy learning and playing there for years to come."

Vistry, which comprises Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes, has planning permission for more than 700 homes at Hounsome Fields across several phases, with homes built so far under the Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands.

It is anticipated that the final homes will be completed in 2027.