Allotments free for all thanks to school pupils
It's taken six months of sheer hard work but students at a secondary school have built 10 brand new gardens for the community.
Horndean Technology College is giving residents the chance to grow their own grub on patches in the school grounds.
Pupils on Pathfinder courses who study vocational skills on top of their academic work put in the leg work and built the plots.
Meanwhile members of the school's Eco Club ensured every effort was made to use recycled materials and make the plots environmentally friendly.
And with an ever-increasing waiting list for council allotments the much sought-after pieces of land are expected to be snapped up -- as they are all free.
Teachers hope it will bring the community together and teach pupils to lead healthier lives by understanding where their food comes from.
Deidre Hurn, deputy headteacher at the school, said: 'Results of a recent study published last month by the Royal Horticultural Society found that children in schools that encouraged gardening became more resilient, confident and lived healthier lives.
'We are viewing this project as a process that can start with visits from the toddlers in our childcare unit and take our children right through their education to learn about the food industry, catering and nutrition.'
Timber and builders' merchants, Covers, provided the equipment and Keydell Nurseries donated the plants.
Father and daughter Adam and Jenny Howard were among the first to get their names down.
Mr Howard, from Horndean, said: 'I had always been interested in gardening and thought it would be a good thing to do with the family, so when the school asked for interested volunteers, I thought I should go for it.
'This gave me the opportunity and motivation I needed.'
The plots were officially opened by Tina Hennessy, operations manager for the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Education Business Partnership.
She said: 'We are delighted to have helped the school.
'We have trips to wholesalers and distributors planned for the students.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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