Nields PTFA is the charitable arm of Nields Academy, led by parents, friends, teachers and staff alongside our headteacher. In 2021 we successfully fundraised to create Nields Garden and were honoured with and award for "PTA Fundraiser of the Year". The garden has since become an essential part of school life, it is an amazing natural outdoor classroom that boosts wellbeing, supports SEN pupils, and teaches children about nature, food growing and recycling. The SEN pupils benefit from calm one-to-one time, and children learn practical skills such as gardening, composting food waste and growing fruit and vegetables.
All improvements have been funded and delivered by the PTFA with generous support from the wider Slaithwaite community. Seeing the clear improvements in wellbeing, engagement and environmental learning, we now want to build on this success and expand into a community garden.
This new garden area, seperate from the existing Nields Garden, will bring together volunteers, families and neighbours to provide a growing space for people who enjoy gardening in community, want to teach the next generation, lack gardens or mobility.
This project will strengthen school-community links, increase wellbeing within our community, improve biodiversity and environmental stewardship on our grounds, and give pupils more opportunities to learn about nature and sustainable living.