Private School News

HURST LODGE SCHOOL pupils visit Ascot Business Park

Ascot Business Park provided students from Hurst Lodge School with a local example of sustainable development. Year 6 had the opportunity to see the benefits of the brownfield site development adjacent to Ascot station when they visited their new local business park last week. Bill Raspin of Raspin Properties Ltd, joint developers of the site along with Salmon Harvester Properties Ltd., explained the complex issues of the construction involved in the change of use of the site very clearly.

In a lively discussion, the girls’ knowledge of recycling building materials and efficient energy use was expanded until they appreciated the features commercial properties need to achieve the ‘very good’ BREEAM* rating that this attractive and contemporary business park now has (*Building Research Establishment Assessment Method). The talk was followed by a quick tour of the park to highlight its variety of tenants and the different types of buildings on the park, from industrial units and artisan studios to the pure office space in Queen’s Square.

Hurst Lodge School has a tradition of awakening the curiosity and creativity of children through practical projects. They are currently setting up a small holding on their 20 acre site in Ascot and the first clutch of chicks are about to hatch. The aim is to make a closer connection with the natural world and to give students the opportunity to make decisions and manage resources through a small holder’s council. Hurst Lodge is collaborating with the award-winning Eden project in Cornwall to implement a carbon and waste reduction programme. The visit to the Ascot Business Park fitted in well with the school’s ethos and new direction.