The second phase of a two phase project to make environmental improvements to the Auckland Walk, which has been funded from a County Councillor’s Neighbourhood Budget, has started this month with pupils from a local school being involved.
Pupils from Whitworth Park Academy’s Gardening Club were invited to get involved in Councillor Pete Molloy’s project by helping Durham County Council’s Parks and Countryside Services plant 10 apple trees on a section of the Auckland Walk.
Leader of the school’s Gardening Club and Maths Teacher Miss Amelia Smith said, “The three core values of our school are kindness, diligence and respect which I think each of our students demonstrated.
“They have been working as a team, improving their local community and developing practical skills outside of the classroom. It’s brilliant to see them thrive in a non-academic setting and see their confidence build when they are able to complete tasks independently from the council Rangers.
“There was no complaining from the students even with the weather and I am proud of them for representing Whitworth Park Academy so well.”
As well as the ten apple trees planted by the pupils of Whitworth Park Academy, DCC Rangers will be planting a mixture of more apple trees and pear trees as part of this project on other sections of the Auckland Walk.
Speaking on why he wanted children from the local secondary school involved in his project, Councillor Molloy said, “The children of our town are important members of the community and the reason why I wanted them involved in this project was to show them that there are adults that do respect and value their positive contributions they can make for the benefit wider community.”
The first phase of Councillor Molloy’s project was the installation last year of tarmac footpaths leading off the main Auckland Walk footpath, leading to St. Paul’s Close and High Whitworth playing field, along with the installation of new replacement Birdsmouth fencing at the entrances of the Auckland Walk at Rosa Street and St. Paul’s Close.
Cllr Molloy added, “I would like to thank the DCC Rangers, Miss Smith and the pupils of Whitworth Park Academy for their good work on this project and once the trees start to bear fruit, they will give additional fruit choices to the cherry trees, blackberry and Raspberry bushes that are already situated along the Auckland Walk that I have seen people picking from.”
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
