Glencore's Integra Underground apprentices were busy last week giving Singleton Out of School Hours Care (OOSH) outdoor play area a make-over.
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Four raised 'wicker' garden beds designed by the apprentices were installed with the two out the front to be used for flowers and the two out the back for grow edibles to be used by at the facility.
In addition to the beds Glencore funded a local builder to install a solid shade cover over an existing picnic table. The apprentices oiled the timber picnic table to help maintain this area.
The raised garden beds are based on the wicking bed design. These are water-efficient, low maintenance and a great height for children and staff.
For each garden bed, the waterproof membrane is one half of a clean/ new 1000L pod. The apprentices built timber enclosures for each garden, which blended in with the natural environment at OOSH.
The OOSH children wrote a list of plants they wanted to grow. Two of the gardens were filled with vegetable and herb seedlings. Two of the gardens were filled with colourful flowers.
Leftover supplies were given to OOSH to help maintain the picnic table area and gardens into the future.
Singleton Council's Anthony Egan, Council's Director Business and Community Services said "This project is a great partnership between Council and Glencore Integra Underground that will deliver a whole range of outcomes in addition to providing a sheltered, shaded outdoor eating area for the children at our OOSH."
"Completion of the shade structure and raised garden beds will allow our children to be involved in growing our own produce, seeing it through from planting to actual usage that will result in a range of sustainable and natural environment conversations and learning opportunities.
"We are very grateful to Glencore Integra Underground for providing the funds as well as the labour to install the garden beds and can't wait to see the children enjoying them."
Peter Ostermann, Glencore Integra Underground's Operations Manager added Integra Underground is pleased to support the Singleton OOSH and transform one of their outdoor areas for local families to enjoy.
"The working bee was a great team effort by our apprentices who have planned the project over the past few months, built the garden beds and set these up at OOSH this week," he said.
"We hope the new covered area and gardens are enjoyed year-round by local parents and children as well as the OOSH staff and visitors."