A new eco classroom at a complex needs school has been named after the 79-mile walking challenge that helped raise thousands of pounds to help pay for it.
Tim Vernon, who has twin grandchildren at Harford Manor School, in Norwich, and his friend Andrew Wilson, initially hoped to raise £1,000 to fund musical instruments for the school when they undertook the Wolds Way Walk.
However, their efforts ended up collecting £13,000, which the school put towards creating the Wolds Way Adventure Room, which was officially opened yesterday.
Karen Elden, schools support manager, said: 'We desperately needed an extra classroom, so we decided to do this. We looked at getting some mobile classrooms but they were really expensive and scruffy looking. We discovered cob classrooms and that developed into this classroom.
'The children really enjoyed getting involved. All our children have complex needs so it's really important for them to have the sensory aspect to it. They seem really impressed.'
The classroom is made of cob and hempcrete, and was created by The Roundhouse Company. Work started in June and continued until Christmas, with pauses to allow the materials to dry.Ms Elden said the long construction period allowed pupils to get involved in its creation, doing things such as mixing the cob, giving them a 'fabulous sensory experience', and meant they could see the structure gradually take shape. The children are now adding their handprints to the classroom, together with their first names, as a reminder if they come back to the school in the years to come.
The project cost a total of £46,000, with £20,000 raised by the school, with the new Asda on Hall Road and Mandall's Gallery on Elm Hill among supporters, and another £13,000 coming from school funds.
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