SCHOOLCHILDREN donned hard hats and fluorescent jackets to hide a time capsule in Ellesmere Port’s new Marks & Spencer store.
Youngsters from Wolverham Primary School packed photos, videos, press cuttings and a school polo shirt into the capsule – which has been concealed in a secret location within the fabric of the £60m flagship branch.
The event was the brainchild of pupils and staff from construction company Simons, who dropped in to the Milton Road school to give a talk about the sustainable features of the megastore.
These include green walls, electric car charging points, hemp wall panels and an 80,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank.
Ed Dixon, environmental champion at Simons, said: “The children at Wolverham Primary were all curious to learn more about the construction of the new store and we were happy to share our secrets about the sustainable building practices we have used.
“We thought that hiding a time capsule in the store was a fantastic idea and a great way for the children to be involved. We don’t expect that it will be found for at least 60 years.”
Jenni Ogden, Year 6 teacher at Wolverham Primary School, said: “The pupils at the school all live close to the new Cheshire Oaks store and have been fascinated by how it has been built.
“Choosing items for the time capsule has been an exciting task and has given the children the opportunity to think about how people will live in the future.”
Hilary Wilkinson, who will be store manager at M&S Cheshire Oaks, added: “It is great to give local people the opportunity to get involved and we’re thrilled with the items that the local children have chosen to put in their time capsule to be opened in years to come.”
M&S Cheshire Oaks – the chain’s largest outside London – will open in late summer.
