House builder CALA Homes (Southern) saved Bushy Leaze Children and Families Centre in Alton £20,000 by renovating its garden.

The transformation took a fortnight and included replacing the lawn with artificial grass for easier maintenance.

All concrete areas were covered with rubber tiles to provide a safe playground and a sandpit with a roof was built so children can still play outside if it rains.

Trees were trimmed and tidied, a ‘green wall’ was created for outdoor activities and materials to complete the roof were given to the caretaker.

All areas were designed with children’s safety in mind and the revamp was made possible by CALA’s Community Pledge initiative at its Rivermead Gardens development in Alton, saving Bushy Leaze money it can now spend on its other family-focused services.

Bushy Leaze Children and Families Centre has been a hub for families of all ages in the heart of Alton for more than 40 years and has nursery places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

CALA’s Community Pledge involves measures to address specific community needs, including donations, volunteering, learning programmes and support initiatives.

Bushy Leaze headteacher Becky Hussey said: “On behalf of everyone at the centre - especially the children - we would like to say a huge thank you to the team at CALA Homes who dedicated two weeks to giving our outdoor area a much-needed facelift.

"Initially we were fundraising to renovate the space, but we were quoted £20,000, which was an unattainable goal. Thanks to CALA Homes, we now have an amazing space where our children can explore, climb, run, jump and have a good time with their friends in a much safer environment.

“Our refreshed area will be invaluable for their well-being, as it allows them to stay active and helps boost their social skills. Providing families with a variety of resources is important here at the centre, and many children don’t have access to an outdoor play area away from the nursery, so having this one means a lot and enables us to ensure all children have safe access to play. It will also be open to families attending our support stay and play sessions.”

Mike Couderc, who is the project manager at CALA Homes (Southern), said: “At CALA Homes, giving back to the people in the communities we develop is at the centre of what we do. Working on this project was a delightful experience; I can confidently say that the team and I can attest to how much a transformation like this means to a community and the Bushy Leaze nursery.

“The dedicated service they provide to local families is essential for giving them the best start in life. Being part of a team that can create a new and exciting space for children to explore and develop is amazing, and seeing their big smiles when we unveiled it made the whole project worthwhile.”

For more information on the Community Pledge scheme run by CALA Homes visit www.cala.co.uk/social-value/community-pledge/