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“This Is Why I Became a Freemason”  
Highlights Community Impact at Elm Tree Primary School

Lowestoft, Suffolk – Integrity, friendship, respect and service were brought vividly to life this weekend as a team of Suffolk Freemasons, led by the Suffolk Community Engagement Team, dedicated their time and energy to transforming the outdoor spaces at Elm Tree Primary School.

The large-scale volunteer effort focused on creating a safe, engaging and sustainable environment where children can explore nature and enjoy outdoor learning. The day saw members roll up their sleeves to complete an impressive list of improvements across the school grounds.

Among the achievements:

   •          Shifting 6 tonnes of topsoil

   •          Moving 2 tonnes of woodchip

   •          Weeding and filling three large allotment beds 

   •          Restoring beds within fruit cages, clearing out

   •          Mulching around all fruit trees

   •          Planting 20 new sweet chestnut trees. 

   •          Completing fence repairs and installing a new gate around the Food Forest

   •          Renovating the majority of willow fedges

   •          Removing invasive raspberry runners from pathways between allotment beds

The team also identified the remaining tasks for their next visit, including repairing bench seating in the stage area, planting the remaining trees and installing wildlife ponds.

 Danny Chambers, Fellow Craft, speaking after the event, said: “This is why I became a Freemason. Days like this demonstrate what integrity, friendship, respect and service truly mean in action. Supporting our local communities and seeing the immediate difference we can make is incredibly rewarding.”

 The project was delivered in partnership with Greener Growth Project, a Suffolk-based Community Interest Company dedicated to environmental education and sustainable community initiatives.

 Jo Metcalfe, CEO and Founder of the Greener Growth Project, praised the collaboration: “It is difficult to fully explain the level of impact such a positive and supportive delivery route this collaboration is achieving for us. Your ‘can-do’ attitude and your general approach to our challenges is having a huge effect on me personally and the whole team in general.”

The initiative forms part of the Suffolk Freemasons’ wider commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship across the county. 

For further information about Suffolk Freemasons’ community initiatives, please contact the Suffolk Community Engagement Team. Bro Scott Russell via the Provincial Communications Officer at comms@suffolkfreemason.org.uk