A GROUP of schoolchildren set aside their classroom studies and got their gardening gloves on last week to muck in with Hook In Bloom.

The pupils from Hook Junior School worked hard to smarten up the large brick planter outside Hook fish and chip shop. Until recently the area was just a weed patch.

Grown-up volunteers cleared the biggest weeds. The children finished the weeding and cleared out a number of saplings that had sprung up around the maple tree in the middle. Then they prepared the bed, and the soil around the nearby benches, before scattering a mix of wildflower seeds.

Hopefully the children’s enthusiasm will soon produce some green shoots, with 12 wild flower species springing up. The planting should create a welcome splash of dainty whites, blues, pinks and reds in the early stages, changing to crisp autumnal colours later in the year.

“It was wonderful to see such keen and enthusiastic young gardeners at work,” said In Bloom volunteer, Councillor Sue Hinton.

“With fantastic support from volunteers like the children and teachers of Hook Junior School, I’m sure we will succeed with the Hook in Bloom project.”

Hook In Bloom was not the only beneficiary of the clean-up project, with ‘Clean for the Queen’ uppermost in the minds of the participants. Children have been volunteering their time to improve their surroundings. The activities will culminate in a party at their school.

Hook in Bloom is receiving two large grants this year; one from Tesco supermarket, and the other from the Big Lottery Fund.

Hart District Council is also supporting the project and supplied the Pictorial Meadows wildflower seeds. The grants will also fund Hook village show on September 11.