Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) and Sodexo who provide horticultural and grounds maintenance for WPH developments, jointly funded two Environmental Awards of £500 for schools and residents’ groups in their annual Garden Competition. The winners were Ridgeway High School, who had a plan to repair their vandalised school garden and Coronation Buildings residents’ group who had drawn up plans to create a new communal garden area.
At Ridgeway, in addition to the Environmental Award, it was agreed to fund further work by way of a WPH Community Grant of £1200. These grants support our communities through a variety of activities and enabled the area to be totally transformed to provide access for the children, including those with mobility problems, to the new deep beds and plant flowers and vegetables. The area surrounding the beds and new pathways have now been turfed and an Olympic Rings design planted in crocus bulbs so the sloping
grassed area will be very impressive in the Spring!
Pauline Roberts, Ridgeway Headteacher said: “our bid for the Community Grant was submitted after the original garden was vandalised by intruders to the site over the Summer holidays. The bid outlined how we wanted to re-establish the garden in order to support our local community members who will be visiting the newly refurbished community centre. Our pupils will be growing vegetables with the idea of contributing to the weekly older people’s luncheon club which is held in the community centre each week.”
Taylor Liddell, a Ridgeway pupil and very keen member of the club would like to pursue a career in Horticulture. He said, “The garden looks fantastic and it will encourage lots of students to learn how to garden, we can't wait to see what it looks like in the spring when the bulbs come up.”
Brian Simpson, Chief Executive of WPH added: “The Environmental Award was designed to help groups fulfil their plans to create new gardens and Ridgeway have certainly done that. In addition, the Community Grants are intended to help improve neighbourhoods and build communities and we hope that growing their own vegetables will not only be an excellent way for children to get their ‘five a day’ but have the added advantage of them learning to garden and work together.”
ENDS
Pictured are some of the ‘Green Choices’ (Ridgeway’s Eco and Gardening Club) children planting up the new raised beds with winter vegetables, herbs and flowers. Also a group picture including Headteacher Pauline Roberts, Jan Watson, Senior Science Teacher, Nigel Payne, Sodexo Operations Director, Steve Jackson, Contract Manager and WPH local residents.
For further information contact Alison Jones, Communications & Reputation Management Officer on 0151 666 7063
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