Reydon Primary School in Southwold creates memorial forest in honour of former teaching assistant

Staff and pupils at a school in Southwold have paid tribute to a former teaching assistant by fulfilling one of her final wishes.

Leanne Wentworth, who worked at Reydon Primary School and was the driving force behind many of its green activities, including its ‘eco committee’, died last year.

Before she died, Mrs Wentworth dreamed of a bird hide in the school’s woodland, which would allow wildlife to be observed.

And it was after her passing that family and the school’s community came together to make her vision a reality.

Pupils and staff donated resources as well as their time to create bird boxes, hedgehog houses, bug hotels and natural decorations and strived to make a memorial woodland in her honour.

Wentworth Woods, as it became known, was the culmination of the project.

Andy Wentworth, her husband, thanked everyone who made his wife’s mission possible.

He praised the generosity and kindness of the community at Reydon Primary School.

Also involved in the project were Southwold contractors Duncan & Son and the Wentworth family.

He added: “I am very grateful to the children and teachers at the school, who created some lovely natural artwork to decorate these woods.

“I think Leanne would be so pleased and proud of everyone.”

Parents, pupils, teachers and Mrs Wentworth’s family gathered at the school on May 22 to open the woodland.

Children sang ‘A Wonderful World’ and enjoyed tea and cakes, before Ivy Wentworth – Mrs Wentworth’s daughter – unveiled the woods’ signage, which was designed by some of the children.

At the event, Martyn Payne, the headteacher at Reydon Primary School, said the event was a truly special occasion and a fitting tribute to their friend and colleague.

Mr Payne added: “As the founder of the Eco Committee at Reydon Primary, Mrs Wentworth was very passionate about the environment and local surroundings.

“One of her dreams was to build a bird hide in the wooded area at school and I am so glad we have been able to turn this into a reality.

“Thank you to everyone whose hard work has made this possible.”