Backwell School staff and students dig in

Students and staff at Backwell School got out their forks and rakes to revamp their fruit and vegetable plot.

The school decided to makeover the plot as part of its programme of activities being organised for its Healthy Schools Week.

Students started the vegetable patch in the school grounds last year, but ran into problems with rabbits eating their crop.

This year, the vegetable club set up to manage the plot has received help from Cleeve Nursery which has provided materials to build a rabbit fence and a water butt as well as gardening help and advice.

Pupils have also been given seeds from Suttons, trowels from Drapers and garden vouchers from Sanders GardenWorld as well as a composting bin from Somerset Recycling.

Students from The Brandon Trust have also been on site helping to get the plot ready for planting.

The big dig saw students and staff joined by members of the local community who helped turn over the patch and work in manure ready for planting.

This year students hope to grow enough produce to make organic vegetable boxes which will be sold to staff, with all the money raised going back into the gardening project.