STUDENTS at a Bradford school have been enjoying school meals made using fruit and vegetables grown on school grounds.

Since the start of 2018, students at Laisterdyke Leadership Academy have been working at dinnertimes and after school to tend to a vegetable patch at the school, learning new gardening and landscaping skills as part of the Eco Warriors project.

They cleared an overgrown area and built raised beds from old pallets, planting fruit crops where strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries were ripe for picking this summer.

Now, as the growing season comes to an end, students have harvested onions and potatoes grown in planters made out of old car tyres.

Kitchen staff used the produce in a range of school meals, including sauces and mashed potato.

Art technician Jane Stables, who has led the Eco Warriors project, said: “At the star of the year we decided to reclaim a disused area of the school grounds and our former Eco Pod to develop an Eco Garden and encourage pupils to get involved in a gardening and nature project.

"In total around 50 pupils have been involved, and I have been impressed with how some have freely volunteered their time and energy – in all weathers too.

“As well as learning about ecology, gardening and caring for our environment, my team of Eco Warriors have learnt so much about our school’s specialism of leadership and the skills and capabilities needed to motivate others to join them in their task.

“Harvesting the potatoes and onions this week has given these pupils a real sense of achievement as they have literally seen the fruits of their labour. I’m really proud of them.”

Year 10 student Haseeb Hussain, added: “This project has been a great chance to learn new skills. We have learnt so much about gardening and landscaping, but also communication skills and teamwork.

“My favourite parts were making the pond, creating the mural and the planting - and of course the harvesting.”