A WIDNES school is planning to create an orchard and soft fruit garden, thanks to the generosity of the local community.

Oakfield Community Primary School in Edinburgh Road has received a £990 grant from Greendeem after residents generously donated 200,000 reward points from Halton’s pioneering recycling scheme.

The money will be use to buy and plant apple, pear, cherry and plum trees.

Head teacher Mrs Catherine Khan said: “We are delighted to have received the full grant from Greenredeem and we can’t wait to see the orchard flourish, enabling us to maximise the benefits that can be derived from the project to enrich the school’s curriculum.”

Once established, the orchard will provide opportunities to enhance subjects such as arts and crafts, food technology, science, PHSE & C, business enterprise, design technology.

It will also create further links with the local community at harvest time when the school is hoping to share the fruit with the local church and care homes.

Clr Stef Nelson, board Member for sustainability said: “This is a great initiative for the school and the local community to come together to support each other and the local environment.”

The Green Schools Programme enables residents who are using the Greenredeem scheme to donate their points to local schools to help them earn grants for the development of initiatives that empower young people aged 3 to 18 in the areas of environmental awareness, education and action.

Greenredeem’s director of marketing & communications, Rob Crumbie said, “It’s great to see continual support from communities, who want to help their local primary school teach children more about sustainable living and how to preserve the environment around them.

“We are really looking forward to seeing the completed orchard at Oakfield Community Primary School and are proud to be able to support local educational initiatives.”

Greenfield pupils are thrilled to receive the £900 grant