200 schoolchildren from Newton Abbot primary schools to help celebrate Decoy Country Park history tomorrow

Wednesday, October 12 @ Decoy Country Park

200 schoolchildren from Newton Abbot will be helping Teignbridge District Council celebrate the Green Flag Award winning Park's history as a Ball Clay Quarry, learning more about local history and the lives of those who worked in the pit.

The event, which has been made possible by Heritage Lottery Funding, will see them listening to stories based on workers' experiences, making their own clay keepsakes, and taking part in historical guided walks and an unusual creative dance workshop.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £11,700 to deliver the Ball Clay Heritage Project, which will show youngsters how Decoy developed from a clay pit into the Local Nature Reserve we see today.

Working alongside local schools, the Ball Clay Heritage Society, Dance In Devon and Sibelco, the events will focus on the heritage of the site and its influence on the clay mining industry of today.

Many former quarry workers and other local people have shared their stories of the site's past, and these will be brought together by a professional storyteller to bring it to life for the young visitors.  

Councillor George Gribble said:

"We're looking forward to helping hundreds of local children find out more about Decoy Country Park's fascinating past and the impact it's had on the industries of today.

"This will be a fitting celebration of our local heritage, bringing history to life for our students and helping to keep important local memories alive."