NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SCHOOL'S GOT GARDEN TALENT!
April 2011
A Mansfiel
d school has beaten off stiff competition to win a contest which invited Nottingham’s nurseries, primary and secondary schools to put forward ideas to create an inspirational outdoor learning space.
The Joseph Whitaker School, in Rainworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, stepped up to the challenge laid down by local garden transformation company, Lime Orchard to dig deep and come up with a winning design entry - which was supported by a stunning 4 foot by 4 foot 3D model of their garden depicting a polytunnel, shed and chicken coop with accompanying chickens!!
The project was spearheaded by Sue Harpham who runs the Joseph Whitaker School (JWS) Community Gardening Club. The Gardening Club represents an important support activity for special children in the community, children living with either physical and / or learning difficulties. Commenting on the school’s success, Sue Harpham says “We are thrilled to have been selected to win this prestigious award, which underpins the significant role the JWS Gardening Club plays in the local community. Participating in the Gardening Club in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays enables our special children to develop valuable life skills and boosts their self-esteem and confidence within the group. By winning the prize of a £2,000 professional garden design fee consultation we will be able to realize the true potential of our garden space and further enhance the scope of our WASP (We are Special People) activities”.
Minster Secondary School and Bleasby Primary School in the Southwell area of Nottinghamshire were also both selected as runners-up in the competition, each winning £100 and a free initial garden design consultation.
The competition which was launched last November, with a closing date of end February, proved hugely popular with schools and nurseries across the county and Lime Orchard managing director Judy Behl said “we were overwhelmed by not only the number of entries but also the incredibly high standard of entry and the obvious amount of work each school put into their submission. It was extremely difficult to choose just one winner but we felt that the superb work that The Joseph Whitaker School does in terms of using their school garden as a means to provide a much needed community facility, made this fantastic entry really stand out from the crowd”.
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