Pupils take their lessons outside

8:19am Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Yorkshire Water launched its One Million Green Fingers campaign in Bradford at St Matthew's Church of England Primary.

Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe paid a visit to the school to launch the campaign which will see employees from the Bradford-based company build outdoor classrooms at 16 schools across the district.

Six raised beds will be built from scratch at St Matthew's by the Yorkshire Water volunteers. Pupils will also help to plant vegetables, fruit and interesting plants.

A frame will be built around the outside of the classroom to encourage climber plants to grow and fruit trees will be planted enabling pupils to make the connection from 'field to fork'.

Phil Ward, duty manager at Yorkshire Water and a school governor at St Matthew's said: "Creating a One Million Green Fingers garden is a great way for Yorkshire Water to give something back to the local community.

The garden we are creating will help the teachers make the curriculum come alive for pupils."

"It will provide an outdoor classroom which will help illustrate to children how the seasons change; they will be able to use it as an inspiration for art work and creative writing; and most exciting of all they will be able to get stuck in, by planting, growing and digging up fruits and vegetables.

"We hope that generations of schoolchildren can enjoy it and learn from it for years to come."

• Are you doing your best to save the planet? Then send your stories and pictures to me, Captain Planet, care of the Features Department, T&A, Hall Ings, Bradford BD1 1JR, or e-mail editorial.features@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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