Burying treasured memories – Chalkdene Developments and Lovell Partnerships ‘dig in’ to help Stevenage school kids

Pupils at a school in Hertfordshire have buried a time capsule so future generations will be able to unearth their lockdown memories.

The youngsters from Larwood Primary School in Stevenage drew pictures and wrote down memories of their feelings and experiences of the pandemic.

Town Mayor Sandra Barr, who is Chair of Trustees at the school, was on hand for the official ceremony burying the time capsule.

The project was supported by developer Chalkdene Developments and their building contractor Lovell Partnerships who are building new homes on a neighbouring site at Trig Point.

The contractor paid for the time capsule, dug the hole and will help build a special garden on site for the children to continue their learning outside.

Justine Fancy, Programme Director at Chalkdene Developments, said: “We thought a time capsule was a great idea and were delighted that the school took up the opportunity to allow the children to put their memories of the pandemic in the capsule for future generations to learn from.”

Mark Fergusson, Project Lead, at Lovell Partnerships, said: “The school is close to our new development at Trig Point and as we’re part of the community we wanted to do something to help our neighbours. We were also happy to help clear their garden which had become overgrown in lockdown, so the children can make full use of it.”

Town Mayor, Sandra Barr, added: “Pupils have had a difficult time due to lockdown but they’ve used the experience to share some of their thoughts and feelings, details of the activities they’ve enjoyed, as well as art work, for a time capsule. Now future generations will be able to have a unique insight into what this time was like to live through for the children.

“I welcome the support for the school from Chalkdene Developments with this interesting project which I’m sure the children have enjoyed being involved in.”

Children aged seven to eleven were keen to get involved in the time capsule project with some creating art pieces illustrating their feelings coming out of lockdown while others included diary inserts for a typical day during the pandemic.

Teacher, Stuart Jacobs, said: “In years to come others will learn a little bit about what the children experienced in lockdown. It’s been really interesting to see what the different families were doing during lockdowns. Some went for walks and others got close to nature. It was quite pleasing to see a lot of them did a range of activities.

“Some of the children wrote about their hopes and dreams for the future and the younger ones drew pictures including rainbows for the NHS.”

The school is named after English 1930s-star fast bowler Harold Larwood with an emphasis on hard work, a positive attitude to learning, being a member of a team and trying things which may be different.

Youngsters recently continued their community work by restarting litter collections and creating cross words and word searches for the residents of local care home Jubilee Court.

Mr Jacobs said that work on the school garden will mean children can continue their learning outside the classroom.

He added: “We started work on the garden before lockdown and had help with clearing it. But it’s overgrown again. The building company has stepped forward to help clear it again.

“That means we can bring the learning to life outside, with different subjects from the curriculum including science and maths. Our children often struggle with imaginative writing but having this facility and getting close to nature will help.

“We’re so grateful for the support Chalkdene and Lovell have given to the school.”