Branston helps out at school allotment

23 March 2009

Volunteers from Branston put their gardening and maintenance skills to good use last Friday helping Potterhanworth Church of England Primary School get their allotment ready for the spring.

The school doesn’t have a garden so Head Teacher Janet Reeder was delighted when they were offered a nearby allotment by a local farmer last year. With the expertise of local gardener Tina Sardeson and support from a number of parents and local businesses the allotment is being transformed from a plot in a field to an outdoor learning facility. And with the school’s gardening club due to start up again soon some extra resource was needed to get everything ready for the children. 

Instead of spending the day in the office, factory or potato field, ten volunteers from Branston worked alongside Tina on a range of tasks. The gardening team created a bog garden and wildlife pond as well as digging, edging and weeding, while the maintenance team were fixing up fencing, maintaining the shed and shelter, sorting out guttering and rain barrels, as well as erecting a new greenhouse that has been donated by Branston Moor Nursery.

The Branston gardening team was led by Jackie Baker: “As one of the biggest local employers, it is really important for us to give something back to the local community. We have over 250 people working at our site in Branston, so we were keen to volunteer some of our skills and manpower for the project.”

Jim Lee, team leader for the maintenance team, said: “Volunteering is a great opportunity for us to leave our day-to-day jobs behind, work with different people and utilise some of our other skills. It’s also great to get involved in a worthwhile project which will make a difference to local children.”

Tina Sardeson runs the school’s gardening club throughout the spring and summer and is a dedicated community gardener. Tina is also a finalist for the ‘People’s Gardener’ award. The final will be held on the Alan Titchmarsh Show on Monday 23rd March.