North West Leicestershire Tenants Help Green Fingered Students
Date of Release: Tue 31st January, 2012
A close working relationship between North West Leicestershire District Council tenants and Castle Rock High School in Coalville is continuing with funding for a poly tunnel to help pupils grow fruit and vegetables – both for themselves and the local community.
Bob Dawe, Chair of North West Leicestershire Tenants and Leaseholders Consultation Forum said: “Our group is delighted to have the opportunity to be involved in this project, which has the prospect of doing so much to bring the whole community together. We look forward to following its progress."
A cheque for £2,000 will be presented to the school on Thursday 2nd February 2012, followed by a tour of the school for a group of council tenants and leaseholders by Lynn Moralee, Castle Rock High School’s Deputy Head.
The poly tunnel project will provide a sustainable outdoor classroom, which pupils can use to work with plants, growing fruit and vegetables to be used in the school canteen, in cookery lessons and to provide plants and food for the local community, either through selling produce or by providing food parcels, such as at harvest time and Christmas.
Councillor Roger Bayliss, North West Leicestershire District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer Services will also attend the cheque presentation event. Councillor Bayliss said: “This project is a great way to further develop positive relationships between the school’s students and the local community. We hope that local residents will get involved in teaching the students their gardening and cookery skills.
“The produce will also be used to provide hanging baskets and plants for local areas, such as Blackbrook Court and Greenhill Community Gardens.”
Anyone interested in working with Castle Rock High School students on this gardening project should contact the school on 01530 834368 to register their interest.
The poly tunnel project is the latest initiative between council tenants and Castle Rock High School students, following a successful silver surfers’ project. The Council’s resident involvement officers worked closely with the school and council tenants on the project, which saw pupils from the school teaching older residents of the Greenhill estate about the world wide web.
