Bristol nursery's ITV vote for garden funds

Children at a Bristol nursery will get a new garden if viewers vote for them on an ITV show to fund community projects.

Rosemary Early Years Centre, in St Jude's, wants to create a better outdoor play space, a sensory garden and an allotment.

Children and staff hope viewers will choose the Rosemary's Garden Project in The People's Millions scheme, which will be on ITV West on November 24.

The scheme, funded by the lottery, features eight projects seeking funding.

Five will be chosen through a ballot of viewers.

Governors, staff, parents and residents are urging Evening Post readers to vote for their project, which they say would much-improve a disadvantaged district.

Chairwoman of governors, Jo Symons, wants to promote community cohesion and change the perception of the area.

"This is a community which has members of many different cultures and religions and bristles with racial tension, some battling with drug and alcohol addiction and all struggling to make ends meet," she said.

"In the middle of all this are our beautiful, awe-inspiring children, brimming with desire to learn more about their world and desperately trying to make sense of situations and emotions that are beyond their years," she said.

The children have moved out of the centre for a few weeks while builders remodel their indoor facilities to better meet the community's needs.

The nursery hopes to be able to work on the garden project when they return.

Residents will be encouraged to work and learn with the children in the garden.

Children will grow herbs and plants from different cultures in the allotment and then cook with them.

Jill Dyer, secretary of St Jude's tenants' association, said residents were strongly backing the project.

"I think it is a wonderful idea," she said.

"The nursery is being given a really good do-out and to have this extra would be absolutely fantastic. It is for everyone in the community."

Fatima Hussein, whose sons attended the school, said: "My children had a lovely time here. I want to support this for the people in the area."

Bristol City Council is funding the centre's refurbishment to make it "fit for purpose".

The work will improve accessibility and will free up space for important family support work, as well as continuing to offer early years education.

Head teacher, Toni Glazzard, said: "All of our children come from the flats on this estate. Thirty per cent are asylum seekers or refugees.

"People living in the area are under all sorts of pressures. We believe this project will help to break down barriers.

"Rosemary Nursery has always been held in deep regard by the residents of St Jude's and is the heart of the community."

Bristol viewers will be able to vote for Rosemary's Garden from 9am on November 24. The number to call will be at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk on the day.