The Recycled Greenhouse Project

In May and June staff from TP Wood Recycling were involved in a novel project at Maltby Hall Primary School, where we were proud to be involved with staff and pupils in building an innovative greenhouse from recycled wood and plastic pop bottles.

This is the first such greenhouse built in England and attracted the interest of the local press, appearing in the Rotherham Record, Maltby Mail and Rotherham Advertiser.

This unusual project took place as part of the Recycling Week at Maltby Hall Infant School, where the pupils spent weeks collecting 1,500 two-litre pop bottles to build an innovative greenhouse using recycled materials.

Science teacher Cheryl Day said that TP Wood Recycling had not only constructed the framework of the greenhouse but had donated the recycled wood used to do so. She added: "It's taken ages to construct because the timber was going to cost a lot of money, but TP Wood Recycling built it for us free of charge and the children inserted the pop bottles in-between the frame."

The school was unable to have a traditional glass greenhouse because of safety concerns, so their new plastic invention is both safer and more environmentally friendly. The school's young explorer group have already grown tomatoes in the greenhouse. "It's warmer than a glass greenhouse and we don't have to water the plants as much because there's gaps in-between the bottle joints where water comes through when it rains", added Miss Day.

Other plans for the grounds include a wild area where youngsters can look for different kinds of animals, a bird watching area, a vegetable garden, sensory patches, a pond and a seating area with a shelter.

T.P. Wood Recycling were represented at the official opening ceremony by Richard Bland and Philip Thackeray, shown here with Cheryl Day and some of the pupils who helped build the greenhouse.

If you represent or know of a local school or community group with a project that could benefit from the help and advice of our Wood Recycling team, why not contact TP Trading?