Give Our Children Green Space: Demand Grass Playing Areas at Chapel Hill Primary School
The Issue
Our children are being forced to spend their school days on concrete and tarmac. We need to change that.
Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery in Basildon is a fantastic, modern facility that our community desperately needed. However, despite a £10 million investment, a critical element of childhood was completely left out of the construction: natural green space.
The school grounds consist almost entirely of tarmac, concrete, and artificial surfaces at present. Our children have virtually zero access to real, natural grass to run, play, and sit on during their breaks.
Why does this matter?
Access to natural green space is not a luxury or an afterthought—it is a fundamental necessity for growing children. Decades of educational, medical, and psychological research conclusively prove that playing on natural grass:
- Reduces stress and anxiety, dramatically improving children's mental well-being.
- Lowers injury rates compared to hard, unforgiving tarmac and abrasive artificial turf.
- Boosts physical coordination, creativity, and focus once they return to the classroom.
- Fosters an essential connection with nature during their most formative years.
We believe that flawed planning construction should never take priority over the physical and mental health of our children.
What we are demanding:
By signing this petition, we are collectively calling on the Lee Chapel Multi-Academy Trust, Essex County Council, and our local MP, Richard Holden, to take immediate action to:
- Conduct an urgent review of the Chapel Hill Primary School outdoor layout.
- Reallocate budgets or secure developer funding to convert the wild unused area into safe, usable, natural grass playing areas.
- Provide a transparent timeline to parents detailing when these green spaces will be delivered.
Every child deserves a school environment that supports their whole development. Let’s stand together to bring green space back to Chapel Hill Primary.
Please sign and share this petition today to give our children the green space they deserve!
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The Issue
Our children are being forced to spend their school days on concrete and tarmac. We need to change that.
Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery in Basildon is a fantastic, modern facility that our community desperately needed. However, despite a £10 million investment, a critical element of childhood was completely left out of the construction: natural green space.
The school grounds consist almost entirely of tarmac, concrete, and artificial surfaces at present. Our children have virtually zero access to real, natural grass to run, play, and sit on during their breaks.
Why does this matter?
Access to natural green space is not a luxury or an afterthought—it is a fundamental necessity for growing children. Decades of educational, medical, and psychological research conclusively prove that playing on natural grass:
- Reduces stress and anxiety, dramatically improving children's mental well-being.
- Lowers injury rates compared to hard, unforgiving tarmac and abrasive artificial turf.
- Boosts physical coordination, creativity, and focus once they return to the classroom.
- Fosters an essential connection with nature during their most formative years.
We believe that flawed planning construction should never take priority over the physical and mental health of our children.
What we are demanding:
By signing this petition, we are collectively calling on the Lee Chapel Multi-Academy Trust, Essex County Council, and our local MP, Richard Holden, to take immediate action to:
- Conduct an urgent review of the Chapel Hill Primary School outdoor layout.
- Reallocate budgets or secure developer funding to convert the wild unused area into safe, usable, natural grass playing areas.
- Provide a transparent timeline to parents detailing when these green spaces will be delivered.
Every child deserves a school environment that supports their whole development. Let’s stand together to bring green space back to Chapel Hill Primary.
Please sign and share this petition today to give our children the green space they deserve!
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Petition created on 29 June 2026