Back to nature benefits

PRIDE in Oldham nomination for learning support worker Melissa Godwin who created a nature area at Oldham Academy North. Pictured: Jennifer Barker (nominator), Joshua Overton, Jordan Stewart and Melissa

A SCHOOL worker who has created a woodland area to benefit students and wildlife has been nominated for the Pride in Oldham Awards.

Melissa Godwin is a learning support mentor at Oldham Academy North in Chadderton who has cultivated trees along with bird boxes and bee hives, for a range of benefits.

Mrs Godwin (41) said: "I came here as a qualified forest school practitioner and wanted to build outdoors learning into the daily activities.

"When I first arrived here, I thought there were some really good outdoor spaces that offered some great opportunities.

"I thought about how theses sites could be used more to support the school curriculum and also for eco-therapy activities to support students, whether individually or in groups. Getting pupils away from the indoor classroom and into an outdoor, natural environment can help with their self-esteem and other needs."

Mrs Godwin said she was delighted to be nominated for the Pride in Oldham awards adding: "I've never won any awards before so this is very exciting. I'm also a bit shocked."

She was nominated by resident Jennifer Barker, who lives opposite the school on Broadway North.

Mrs Barker is a member of St Anne's Church in Royton, a Relate charity worker and a former hair salon owner and magistrate.

She said: "When the academy first opened I was involved with community liaison work connected to the new development. When the academy was being built there was talk of cutting down some trees on the site. However the trees were kept and Mel Godwin has since enhanced the area with bird boxes and bee hives.

"I think she has done some marvellous work and I wanted to highlight this to the community through the Pride in Oldham Awards. Mel is also excellent with young people and she's a credit to the school."

She added: "Our church has done various work projects with the academy over the years. This included having a number of icons painted for the church by the school's art department. It's nice to have these links and to support developments between the school and wider community."