Persimmon donation brings students’ eco courtyard dream a step closer

Plans to develop an ambitious environmental project by teenage pupils at a Bury St Edmunds college have been boosted with a key donation from Persimmon Suffolk.

A group of Year 9 students at Thurston Community College have formed an eco-group, to focus on environmental matters. Among their current priorities is re-developing a disused courtyard into a safe social space. As well as creating a beautiful nature area, the new space will increase biodiversity with wildflowers, bird feeders, boxes and living flower walls.

To help fund the plan, Friends of Thurston College contacted Persimmon Suffolk and the company agreed to donated £1,000 towards the project, from its Community Champions initiative. Under the scheme, divisional offices are able to allocate two donations each month to local charities and good causes.

Persimmon Suffolk managing director Ian Hamilton said: “This impressive project will help students develop their leadership skills and create a peaceful, safe environment within the College. As well as taking pride in the design and development, they will gain a greater understanding of nature and biodiversity.”

On behalf of the Friends of Thurston College, spokesperson Teresa Farley said: “This is something students have worked hard at to reach this point. Now they are really keen to make use of an abandoned area and create a very special natural courtyard within the college. This donation from Persimmon is greatly appreciated, as it brings this exciting scheme a step closer.”

For more information on Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative – or its newly-launched Building Futures scheme which specifically helps the under-18s – go to www.persimmonhomes.com/community-champions