A NEW eco garden was bathed in sunshine at Woolmer Hill School for a party to mark the official opening last Sunday.

The newly created ‘edible garden’ space has been months in the planning and building and finally planting with the help of pupils and the local community.

RHS Chelsea medal winner Hannah Genders helped the students design the garden as part of an after school eco-gardening club.

They are already enjoying the fruits of their labours with carrots and courgettes used in the cakes baked by pupils for the guests.

A school spokesman said: “This wonderful outdoor resource in the school grounds is already paying off with plenty of lovely vegetables and there was ample opportunity on Sunday for further harvesting of cucumbers, courgettes and beans.

“Fun was had with competitions to guess the number of grapes in the bag and guess the weight of the -rather large- courgette.

• “The opening party was organised to enable Woolmer Hill School pupils and staff to thank everyone from the local community, who have generously donated time and materials to this exciting project, and to also to build positive networks for going forward.”

• Anyone interested in becoming involved in the growing project can contact the school.