The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, and Minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Mims Davies, recently visited Hamble Primary School to start her tree planting tour of local schools as part of the Queens Commonwealth Canopy Project. During her visit the local MP and Sports Minister also officially opened the newly installed all-weather running track and participated in a walk around the track.
Reflecting on the visit, Eastleigh MP and DCMS Minister Mims Davies said:
“I really enjoyed marking the Queens Commonwealth Canopy project locally with the first of several tree planting events taking place in schools across the constituency. I am passionate about securing our environment for future generations to come and I was fortunate and delighted to receive my box of trees from the Woodland Trust who I worked closely with during my time as Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ancient Woodland and Veteran Trees.
“Whilst preparing the ground to plant the tree, the children were chatting to me about the importance of planting trees to help sustain a healthy environment. Their knowledge and understanding of nature was very clear and I was delighted to hear that many of them grow their own fruit and veg at home or on an allotment.”
During the visit, the Eastleigh MP and Sports Minister also opened the schools new all-weather ‘Healthy Choices’ track. Commenting, Hamble Primary School Headteacher Nicky Rickman said:
“We are delighted with our new Healthy Choices track and were really pleased to welcome our local MP and Sports Minister, Mims Davies, to our school to open it. The children are really enjoying the personal challenge of seeing how many laps they can do and it has certainly improved the amount of active physical activity undertaken by children during the school day.
“We are planning to use the next allocation of Sports Premium money, along with money raised by our school PTA, to add some outdoor gym equipment to the area. We are always seeking ways to continue to encourage healthy lifestyles for our children and staff, both physically and mentally, and this has been a good way of encouraging exercise on a daily basis.”
Also commenting on the new all-weather track, local MP Mims Davies said:
“During my visit to Hamble Primary School it was a real privilege to also open the schools brand new all-weather running track. This is proving to be hugely popular with children and staff alike and is a great way to get outside in the fresh air and take part in physical activity every day. As Minister for Sport, I am really keen that children are given the opportunity to participate in regular sport and exercise and this running track is a fantastic way to achieve this.
“The Headteacher, Nicky Rickman, her staff and Governors should be commended for this forward-thinking investment which everyone is benefitting from. Encouraging children to help the environment and take regular activity sessions is so vital to ensure they take this understanding into adulthood and continue these good habits.”