Partnerships developer Lovell has provided two primary schools in Cardiff with educational site tours of the development on the former Lansdowne Hospital site, centred around sustainability.
Eleven pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna and 23 pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch visited the site to learn about the housebuilding industry and sustainable construction practices, and how Lovell is protecting local wildlife and the environment.
Anthony Whitehead and Luke Morgan, site managers at Lovell, took the students on guided walks of the development to showcase the homes under construction. Harri Lewis, Lovell environmental and sustainability advisor, then led discussions on sustainability.
Pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna who form the school’s eco-council were taught about the importance of renewable energy. Harri introduced them to some of the sustainable initiatives implemented on site, such as the installation of solar panels, the use of recycling bins to ensure less than one per cent of waste goes to landfill, the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel in machinery to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and Lovell’s cycle-to-work scheme.
The students were then shown how Lovell makes bug hotels from recycled construction materials and learnt about the ways biodiversity is encouraged on site via a protected tree, a pond created to support wildlife and specially designed habitats for bats and birds.
Rebecca Pennar, Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna Eco-Council Coordinator, said:
“The children on the eco-council really enjoyed their visit to the Lovell site. The communication from the education team was fantastic beforehand and the presentation was relevant and pitched brilliantly to the age of the students. They were thrilled to be on site in their hard hats and high vis jackets.”
With the pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch, Harri spoke about the key differences between brownfield and greenfield sites, and about how Lovell prioritises the needs of the community when selecting sites for new developments.
Year 5 and Year 6 pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch said:
“We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Lansdowne Hospital building site and we would like to thank Lovell for the welcoming and wonderful experience. We learnt a great amount about housebuilding and sustainability. We would like to thank Lovell for what they are doing for the planet and our local community. Since attending the session, many of us have been inspired to want to work for the company in the future.”
Gemma Clissett, regional partnerships director at Lovell, said:
“At Lovell, we are very passionate about protecting the local environment and ensuring our building methods are as sustainable as possible, so were delighted to share our knowledge and work with pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna and Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch. It was a real pleasure to see them so engaged and enthusiastic, and we take great pride in helping to inspire the next generation.”
Chris Monk, Project Manager at Hafod, said:
“We’re delighted that pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna and Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch had the opportunity to visit the former Lansdowne Hospital site, and gain insight into the world of development, as well as environmentally conscious building practices, it’s a fantastic way to inspire the next generation. We’re grateful to Lovell for organising these visits and for their strong focus on delivering social value throughout the project.
“At Hafod, we're committed to investing for a better future and are championing sustainable practices within our development programme. The site is progressing well, and it’s exciting to see these much needed affordable homes take shape.”
