Students begin work to add new woodland walk near Tump 53

: Created: 14 June 2019

Tump 53 dates back to the days when this area was largely uninhabited marshland and is one of the few remaining tumps originally built by the nearby Royal Arsenal to store gunpowder, encircled with blast walls and moats. Since 2013, however, it has been used as a focal point for schools and youth groups to introduce youngsters to natural and environmental issues with the aid of the Wild About Thamesmead Campaign. They were responsible for securing the initial funding for its original transformation.

The students will be working hard to clear away overgrown bramble and collect rubbish and debris that has accumulated over the last few years. The project will then lead to the construction of a new 'safe' pathway leading to a children's play area.

Jack Gower, Outdoor Education Manager for Peabody (Peabody manage the site) is delighted that the College has been able to lend its support and provide skills and labour for the project to get underway this summer. He said: “Thank you to the students and staff from London South East Colleges for their hard work clearing the way to prepare for a new Woodland Adventure Walk to be added to Claridge Way. The clearance of rubbish and debris they completed will allow us to proceed with the next stage of development in this area which involves planning pathways and opening up some sections for children to play in. I hope this is the start of many successful projects with the College in Thamesmead which will work to connect those that live and work in Thamesmead with the natural environment.”

Peabody’s Senior Regeneration Manager, Kate Batchelor, was also quick to praise the students, saying: “The work the students are performing today will form part of a much larger initiative which will benefit locals for many years to come. They will take away valuable on-site working experience as well as a sense of achievement and community engagement. Partnerships such this enable everybody to benefit and contribute to making our environments liveable, stimulating, clean and enchanting.”

Construction Multi Skills Level 1 student Connor Sheppard Coombs has been looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and getting down to work for several weeks now. Taking a short and much deserved break from his work he said: “It’s amazing how much work you can get through when you are working with such a dynamic team as ours. We are all up for this and each member has been specially chosen to take part. I’m very honoured to be amongst them and intend to prove myself and promote my abilities and drive.

“I would like to be a self-employed bricklayer once I have completed all of my training at the College and so far, I’ve learnt many new skills in different building services disciplines on my level 1 course. Next September, I’ll be returning to specialise in brickwork and from there it will be onwards and upwards for me.”

If you think you have what it takes to become a construction trade professional and would like to build a successful career in the building services and built environment industries, we’d like to hear from you. We have a great range of courses and apprenticeship opportunities to get you started. Come along to one of our open events. Click here to learn more.

Related news: Restoration Woman