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Grundon Endorses School Project
Leading aggregate supplier S. Grundon (Services) Ltd is demonstrating its community spirit by providing a Berkshire school with the material of an unusual project.
Every year class six at Alder Bridge School near Reading is given a practical building project. In previous years this has taken the form of jobs such as building a wooden framed hut or the laying of a brick wall. This year it was decided that the project would be to build a two metre square 'rammed earth' hut using only the raw materials that would have been available to their ancestors. Being in an area where the soil is predominately sand and gravel, this material was the natural choice.
Grundon was approached for assistance. Managing Director Neil Grundon advised that the 'abraised' ballast from the company's Butts Lake quarry would be suitable and agreed to donate 10 tonnes to the school.
"We are delighted to help", he says. "The company policy is to get involved with the local community wherever possible by not only providing employment but practical help. Alder Bridge School is just along the road from our quarry and does an excellent job of providing its pupils with a practical education".
Using shuttering loaned by a local builder, the pupils are building the 1.6 metre high walls of the hut by pouring in the Grundon aggregate and ramming it down with the thick sticks until it is solid. The hut will then be thatched using traditional methods. The project is due for completion by the end of the summer term to be ready for the end-of-term Parent Day.
