A courtyard garden designed by enterprising sixth formers at Priesthorpe School in Pudsey has been unveiled.
The garden will benefit fellow students with special educational needs or those at risk of exclusion and was made possible with funding of £5,000 and expert advice from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
The official opening was commemorated by the planting of a Judas tree to complete the garden.
Students at Priesthorpe were challenged to pitch their garden design ideas to a panel of RHS experts and teachers.
Rachel Elsworth, Amy Sugden, Caitlin Lawton, Aneta Kruczek and Bella Davison were selected to take part in the project.
The garden has two distinct zones, a warm tropical area with brightly coloured and stimulating plants, and a cooler shady area with a calming atmosphere. Plants such as hostas and grasses were chosen to add texture, while various herbs were picked to add to the sensory nature of the garden.
The project is part of the RHS Community Fund programme which provides students with a chance to develop practical skills while gaining an insight into horticulture and the variety of career opportunities it can provide.
John Turner, Priesthorpe School Business Manager, said:
“The project has provided the students with the opportunity to develop a range of employability skills. Through the development of the new garden, the project will also help us to better support students with particular emotional and educational needs.”
Sarah-Jane Mason, RHS Development Officer, said:
“The RHS is really excited to be able to offer this opportunity to students at Priesthorpe School. This pilot has shown how the RHS Community Fund can been used in an innovative way to engage young people in horticulture and highlight the huge range of career opportunities within the industry, from garden design to marketing and business management.”
