DANE Ghyll Primary School pupils are delighted to have won funds to spend on the school garden in a national competition with Better Energy School Awards for Excellence in Environmental Education.

The competition, which is in association with YPTE (young people’s trust for the environment) covering the whole of UK, saw all of Dane Ghyll’s 198 green-fingered children take part in the project, 'Vegetables ,Wildlife and So Much More’.

Dane Ghyll, on Skelwith Drive, originally entered the competition through the category Totally Active, which saw the school awarded as the category’s runner up for 2019, bagging £250 in prize funds.

Head of the school’s garden, Louise Postlethwaite said: “The children work extremely hard in the school gardens growing fruit and vegetables, while also nurturing the plants - then harvesting and cooking with the produce.

“All of our children from age four to 11 have been involved in the project, which is 198 children in total.

“We’ve also had all the teachers involved and members of the public including parents who have volunteered.

“This has been a great community project.”

Through the project, the school is also encouraging wildlife into the garden. This is done through various methods including making bird feeders on a regular basis.

The children also use recycled materials to make ‘bug mansions’, bird baths, a mud kitchen, and seating areas.

Recently they have added an owl and the cat boat alongside the minion planters.

An old bicycle has been donated to school, which is also planted up with flowers together with dining chairs and tyres.

The school gardens are incorporated in the school curriculum and staff are delighted with their project Vegetables, Wildlife and So Much More.

The Better Energy School Awards aim to assist and encourage environmental education for young people aged 5-11. The competition promotes the work schools are doing to cover any kind of environmental issue.