Pupils get green help

1:39pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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Children at a Bradford primary school have been given a new green space to enjoy.

Reevy Hill Primary in Buttershaw is the third school in the city to gain a vegetable garden in Yorkshire Water's One Million Green Fingers Garden scheme.

Already 13 schools across Yorkshire have received the treatment and a further nine are scheduled for Bradford alone next month.

The gardens provide schools with areas where pupils can gain hands-on learning experiences, bringing to life the connection between growing plants and vegetables and healthy eating.

A team of volunteers leading the Reevy Hill challenge transformed an area of the school grounds into a vegetable garden by building three large raised planing beds.

Pupils at the school will then use their green fingers to plant a host of vegetables including carrots, potatoes, beans and peas. The results will then be harvested for use in the school's kitchen.

Nursery nurse and governor for healthy eating at the school, Jackie Barwick, said: "The garden will become a valuable resource as an outdoor classroom to support our curriculum and enrich children's experiences.

"Our school has been awarded the Healthy Schools Charter Award and, as part of this, we aim to help the children become more aware of environmental issues, healthy eating and where food comes from."

Yorkshire Water community affairs assistant and team leader, Dannielle Rooney, added: "The garden we are creating today will be used frequently by the children and teachers at the school. It's very important for children to know where their food comes from and this new area will make it fun and exciting for them to learn."