Telling the Otterpool Tale – children learn about local heritage with new board game

15 November 2021

Schools in the Folkestone and Hythe district were presented with a new board game this month as part of a project to help familiarise children with their local heritage in a fun way.

The board game, called Telling the Otterpool Tale, has been created as part of a collaboration with Strange Cargo, a local participatory arts organisation.

Players work their way around the board, which features an illustrated map, and read out and learn facts about the history of the garden town site, building up a picture of the stories that make up the history of the area. The Otterpool Park site is full of rich heritage features including its former racecourse, Westenhanger Castle and Bronze Age barrows. Plans for the proposed garden town aim to protect and celebrate its past.

Schools have also been provided with a resource pack to help support history lessons and a teachers’ pack provides a wealth of additional suggestions of how the board game can be used as a curriculum resource.

Pupils attending the presentation event at Westenhanger Castle on Friday 12 November enjoyed craft activities, before the schools were presented with their own copy of the game by Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee, Otterpool Park Board Member and Deputy Leader / Cabinet Member for Communities at Folkestone & Hythe District Council.

Participating schools included Aldington Primary School, Brockhill Park School, Harvey Grammar School, Dymchurch Primary School, Hythe Bay Church of England Primary School.

Tamasin Jarrett, Community Services & Events Manager at Otterpool Park LLP said, “We want to provide ongoing opportunities for young people to learn about and engage with the history of their local area and were delighted to welcome schools to receive their copy of the Telling the Otterpool Tale board game.”

Carolyn Chivers, Headteacher of Hythe Bay Church of England Primary School, said, “The resources we received are excellent and will support learning and bring to life our local history in a fun and engaging way. We really appreciate any opportunity that helps our children understand the history of their local area.”