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Green project to reduce air pollution at local school

We are helping improve the health of children at Hunter’s Bar Infant School in Sheffield through assisting their #GoGoGreen campaign.

The project is a partnership between the school and the University of Sheffield, to raise awareness, funds and provide support to build a living green barrier around the school. As members of Sheffield Business Together, a collaboration of Sheffield businesses that share resources with charities, we offered to be the principal contractors in delivering the pre-planting groundworks needed for the air pollution barrier.

The 60m-long living green barrier aims to improve playground air quality and clean the air children breathe caused by harmful pollutants of vehicle exhaust fumes. The barrier has been designed using data collected from the Breathe research project; researching inner-city school air quality and the impact of living green barriers in playgrounds.

Works included preparing the ground ready for installation through digging, edging and replacing the drain. The project was delivered with a huge amount of support from subcontractors RB Allfree along with Sub Scan and suppliers G E Robinson & Co Ltd and Cemex UK Materials who provided the timber sleepers and concrete, respectively.

As a local contractor, we are delighted to support the school in delivering the #GoGoGreen project. The innovative scheme will lead to improved air quality for children for years to come and we are grateful to subcontractors Sub Scan and RB Allfree for providing their assistance with the groundworks.

Gary Holmes, Contracts Manager, Henry Boot Construction Limited

In October the school community, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield businesses will plant the living green barrier in the newly prepared playground. The accompanying research study will be published in scientific journals and via online platforms, making it accessible for other schools to learn from. An objective has been set to create a #GoGoGreen blueprint, which will support other schools to install similar green barriers.

We have been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from Henry Boot, their subcontractors and suppliers. They have supercharged the #GoGoGreen construction phase with their expertise, contacts and energy and we can’t thank them enough.

Rowan Hall, School Governor, Hunters Bar Infant School