26 November 2009

Young gardeners awarded budding beds

A Coventry primary school has been awarded new flower beds after winning a gardening competition run by Whitefriars Housing Group.

 

Pupils from St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School, Radford, were crowned budding gardeners of the year in recognition of their outstanding effort in the 2009 ‘How does your garden grow?’ competition.

 

Each school was given a free gardening kit, containing seeds, plants, bulbs, books, gardening tools and curriculum notes and set the challenge to produce their own greenery and grub. The project aims to promote healthy eating and this year supported 20 Coventry-based primary schools to grow their own fruit, flowers and vegetables.

 

All those who completed the project were invited to a special celebration ceremony at the Britannia Hotel to recognise their eco-achievements. Each school was presented with a certificate, trophy and a bee and bug box.

 

The winners were chosen by a group of Whitefriars’ residents called the Better Estates Customer Service Improvement Group. Resident Carole Simpson, one of the judges, said: “Each school submitted a record of the work the children had completed and the entries this year were a higher standard than ever before. We chose St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School as the winner because the children had made an outstanding effort by handwriting the entry themselves.

 

“There were photographs of the children planting seeds and watering their produce. They even took the salad they had grown to the dinner ladies who shared it out with other children. It was great to see just how much the children had enjoyed the project and are looking forward to next year.”

 

The school was given a choice of prize and opted for raised flower beds in wooden planters and topsoil to develop its gardens further.

 

Sally Fox, healthy schools coordinator, said: “We were absolutely delighted with our children winning the competition. They showed real dedication and commitment to the project and it has infused and inspired them to continue."

Whitefriars’ Estates Maintenance Team was brought in to install the beds using recycled topsoil and children have been celebrating the improved garden this week by planting their first flowers. The children also hope to grow soft fruit and root vegetables in the new plot.  

Bethany Mitchell, aged eight, said: "When we won the prize I had really tingly feelings. I was so happy and surprised."

Rachel Hobbs, director of housing services at Whitefriars Housing Group, added: “We want to create places where people are proud to live. This programme is part of our commitment to improving the appearance of our communities and helps to teach children to take pride in their environment from a young age. It’s also a great way to make healthy eating fun.

 

“I would like to thank all the schools that took part in the project and hope that they enjoyed it as much as we did.”

 

Ends

Notes to Editors

 

Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 18,000 homes across Coventry.

 

Whitefriars Housing Group is part of West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead partner of Spectrum Development Partnership.  WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project.  The new combined group, which is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,500 homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

 

Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop new affordable homes and regenerate communities. 

 

Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £340 million to repair and improve its housing stock.  The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard –ahead of schedule.  It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving the core services received by residents.

 

In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.

 

Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.

 

For further information please contact Val Hunt or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge Group on

024 7656 0440 or v.hunt@bridge-group.co.uk