Best School Garden 2012

Children spend every Friday afternoon in the school garden, as exercise, fresh air and learning are combined.

Activities can include everything from making bird boxes and learning about bugs to planting and composting.

Teaching assistant Kim Knibbs supervises the gardening work with teacher Bev Hall.

She said: “Around 18 pupils will go out in the garden every week, and the gardening goes on throughout the school year and in all weathers.

“As well as planting and weeding the children also look at bugs and wildlife that live in the wooded area across the road and compare it to the creatures that live in the garden itself.

“We also take part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch programme.”

This year’s school entries were:

St Johns School Annexe of Kempston

Abbey Middle of Elstow

St Swithins School of Sandy

Hazeldene Lower School of Putnoe

Lincroft Middle School of Oakley

Caldecote Lower School of Upper Caldecote

Ursula Taylor Lower School of Clapham

Ivel Valley School of Biggleswade

Little Saplins Pre-School of Goldington

Wrestlingworth Lower School of Wrestlingworth