PASSIONATE gardener Sally Spaarkogel helped Woolmer Hill students win an award for the best school wildlife garden.

Pupils beat off stiff competition for the top spot in the Surrey Wildlife Trust 2019 wildlife garden of the year awards, supported by Squire’s garden centres.

Sally leads Woolmer Hill’s weekly gardening and after- school club.

Students have made hedgehog homes and rescued and re-released many around the school grounds.

They have four raised beds for vegetables and wildflowers, reuse rain water from down pipes and have created a greenhouse out of recycled bottles.

Different butterflies, grass snakes and slow worms have been spotted in the grounds.

Victoria Pinder, wildlife gardening champion at Surrey Wildlife Trust, said: “What is great about Woolmer Hill School is they have Sally.

“She is a very passionate gardener who clearly inspires the students to continue their interests, both in school and in further education as a career, as many go on to agricultural college.”

The annual awards celebrate the most passionate Surrey gardeners, who are helping to support wildlife from bees and bugs to hedgehogs, birds and bats.

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s garden centres, added: “The wildlife garden awards are brilliant as they get people enthused about gardening, with wildlife front of mind.

“It’s great to work closely with Surrey Wildlife Trust to encourage people to attract more wildlife into their gardens.”