PTA School Garden Opening

Our PTA School Garden was officially opened on Tuesday 16th June by the Deputy Mayor of Stockport. All of the children and staff watched the opening. We were joined by parents and also by some of the people who had made the garden possible including: Emma Podmore who designed the garden, Archie Moore and other members of the PTA who worked hard fundraising for the garden, Dave Hanlon from Riverford Organics who provided seeds and Mrs Davidson whose family donated our shed.   Other guests included school governors and representatives from the community and local authority. Unfortunately the Queen couldn't make it, but we did get a lovely reply from the invitation and letter which Gardening Club sent her!

Everyone enjoyed our 'Let's Get Gardening' opening day. A great many children brought plants to add to the garden during the day. Each child had also designed a personal label for their plant. We had fun planting and lots of parents joined in – some parents staying for a good part of the day, it was much appreciated! The garden looks great and is now well stocked with some beautiful plants and flowers.

The garden has a spring meadow, butterfly garden, bird garden, allotments, mini beast habitat and teaching area. The garden will be a great focus for work right across the curriculum. Children will gain an understanding of how to look after and tender the garden and gain a greater appreciation of how to look after the environment. They will experience first hand how vegetables are grown and be able to use the produce that they grow – each class has their own small allotment and all of the children will be involved.

Thank you again to the PTA for their fundraising and to Mrs Chamberlain who is our head gardener and has spearheaded the project.  The PTA have done a tremendous job raising £10 000 for the garden. This has been achieved through the wide variety of events that have been planned, organised and run by the PTA. Because of the PTA’s hard work and everyone’s support for PTA events we are able to get going with the garden. Thank you! Extra funding was also provided by a Local Authority grant.

We have a gardening club and want to get parent and community involvement – so please don’t be shy if you have green fingers (or want to try and cultivate them!) - please let Mrs Chamberlain know that you'd like to help.  Our 'Let's Get Gardening' opening day was a great opportunity for the whole school community to share in the garden and we want to keep this going!

Ramillies Avenue, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, SK8 7AL

0161 485 8071

admin@laneend.stockport.sch.uk