Mulberry Academy Woodside Begins Plans for Community Hub
Pupils at Mulberry Academy Woodside have started to share their exciting ideas for the redevelopment of the school’s long-disused field.
After more than 10 years of inactivity, the school is exploring how to breathe life back into the green space and transform it into a community hub for pupils and residents around Haringey.
The site has been closed due to longstanding issues with drainage and an unsafe playing surface.
Woodside students, clipboards in hand, were recently joined by local ward councillor and Haringey cabinet member for health, Lucia das Neves, as they explored the site and shared their plans for change.
Pupils’ ideas included fun and active uses of the space including strong support for a multisport pitch, a wildlife area and a building that could be used for local events and celebrations.
The school has begun surveying staff, students and parents on what they would like to see from any redevelopment and will extend this consultation out to the wider community before putting any more detailed proposals together.
Angela Wallace, headteacher of Mulberry Academy Woodside, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to reimagine how a large space can be brought back into meaningful use for the school and local community.
“As part of our Vision 2028, we want to strengthen the ties to our neighbourhood and give back to our young people so they have safe and creative spaces to enjoy long into the future.
“Alongside the council, staff, pupils and residents, we want to start bringing these ideas together to try and create a purposeful and sustainable space that can form a key pillar of the community for many years to come.”
Sakeiva Nixon, a Year 7 pupil, said: “We loved exploring such an amazing and large space. We really want to see it being used again by the school and the local community.
“We’ve got lots of ideas that we really enjoyed discussing and we’re very excited to be a part of this project!”
