Redgate School in Mansfield will be getting closer to nature, thanks to a donation of eco-friendly habitat huts for their school grounds from a building contractor appointed by Mansfield District Council.

The company Geda Construction, which is currently building the council’s £1.76 million housing development in Pye Avenue, presented pupils and teachers with bird boxes, insect houses, a hedgehog home and a bee house, some of which will be installed in the school’s sensory garden.

The gift is part of the company’s biodiversity campaign, which seeks to reduce the impact of construction on the surrounding flora and fauna around its building sites.

Health Safety Environment and Quality Advisor at Geda, Sam Sufferin said: “This is our way of giving something back to the local community and helping local school children to gain a better understanding of wildlife. Unfortunately construction processes can sometimes hinder biodiversity temporarily during works, so the aim of our campaign is to help offset that interruption.”

Head Teacher at Redgate School, Pauline Carfield said that the school was delighted with the new habitats. She said: “We are developing our outside area and growing trees and shrubs. It will be lovely to have an area, where the children will able to watch the wildlife closely.”

Mansfield District Council’s Pye Avenue housing scheme has transformed a former disused garage site into 12 houses – five with three bedrooms and seven with two bedrooms, providing much needed new housing in the district.

Portfolio Holder for Housing Cllr Barry Answer said: “We welcome Geda Construction’s campaign to support wildlife and raise awareness of local biodiversity, while constructing this prestigious new development. These eco-friendly habitats will help to support wildlife within the school grounds and enable pupils to learn more about the natural environment.”