This February, we opened our new outdoor classroom to excited boys.
The ‘Wells Eco Learning Lodge’, already affectionately known as ‘The Welly’, is a new, inspirational learning space.
Here, boys can connect with nature, learn how to look after the environment and enjoy active, hands-on experiences in the great outdoors—all positive aspects for promoting well-being.
Solar- and wind-powered, The Welly has a learning lodge, eco-dome and bushcraft area. Our teachers are already planning exciting outdoor subject lessons and many clubs for the space, including bushcraft, ecology and gardening.
The Welly is also a quiet zone for boys before school, at lunchtime and during break times. It is a peaceful place for boys to relax, chat, read or create art surrounded by living walls and abundant planting.
“We are incredibly excited to be able to add this brilliant and unique learning space to our school.
Thank you to The Colonel Wells Fund (through our Bedford School Foundation Trust) for funding this brilliant multifunctional space, which will enhance every boy’s learning.
Just some of the facilities of ‘The Welly’:
Outdoor classroom
Eco-dome
Solar panels and wind turbine
Energy education panel
Composter/wormery
Filtration education system
Living walls and wildflower meadow areas
Potting table and wooden planters
Bushcraft area with firepit and den-building/hammock area
Mrs Russell, the driving force behind the creation of The Welly, added, “It was an absolute pleasure to work with the Timotay design and build team. We worked together on the design from day one and continued evolving the project. They had great eco ideas and implemented them in the four-week build. They even kindly made a few additions using the recycled wood from our old trim trail.”
The Welly will be officially opened in a special ceremony on Saturday 23 March 2024.
