PRIMARY school children from all over Shropshire have been making the most of a unique learning opportunity thanks to a partnership project.

Tudor Griffiths Group, in Ellesmere, has joined forces with Shropshire Wildlife Trust to offer a range of outdoor sessions for the youngsters at their headquarters in Wood Lane.

Managing director of TG Group, Tudor Griffiths, said the outdoor lessons were extremely popular and gave the pupils chance to experience learning in an unusual and interesting setting.

“It’s always wonderful to see the children in their hard hats and hi-vis jackets on site, and as well as a guided trailer ride tour of our working quarry, they visit the purpose-built geology field station to learn about the formation of rocks and fossils.

They also get to see where sand and gravel is removed from the ground and how it is processed.

“And we can offer a visit to our landfill site and recycling facility too so that the children can discover the story of what happens to rubbish and compare the process with how nature recycles.

“We believe that helping youngsters to understand the environmental impact of today’s society and how to minimise the damage caused is an invaluable lesson that will prepare them for the future.”

Ellie Larkham, for Shropshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Our aim with this partnership is to deliver inspiring, practical, outdoor sessions in wild places that will inspire the children, and the visits to Tudor Griffiths Group have been particularly successful.

“We’re extremely grateful to TG Group for their commitment to this project, and their support is very much appreciated.

“The company runs a busy working quarry and it’s very generous of them to allow our groups onto the site to help make rocks fun, and to give the children the chance to follow the journey our rubbish takes after we put it out for the recycling lorry.”

As part of the initiative, Shropshire Wildlife Trust also offers outdoor sessions in Charles Darwin’s childhood garden in Shrewsbury, where they bring the ideas of evolution and inheritance to life.