Pond Park Primary pupils fly the flag for eco gardens

The pupils were recognised for their hard work in creating a wildlife and sensory garden at the Lisburn school.

The new garden was officially opened last week by Radio Ulster presenter Cherrie McIlwaine.

Staff, parents and pupils at the school, with the help of artist Alison McKnight and utilising the skills of Clive Lyttle, have been working hard over recent months to transform a section of tarmac at the school into a wildlife and sensory garden.

The seeds of the idea were planted with the formation of an eco council at the school in 2011, when pupils identified the need for green space. Last year, with help from the Big Lotery Fund’s Awards For All scheme, the Northern Ireland Environment Link’s Challenge Fund and Dobbies ‘Here weGrow’ campaign, work began in earnest to create the space, which had now become the pride of the school.

The school was delighted to be awarded the Eco Schools Greenflag award and Principal Geoffrey Cherry thanked everyone for helping to create the new garden. “This has been an amazingly inclusive project,” he added.