<< Back to index A wildflower garden from old wasteland | | Digging for victory: Oakdale children get stuck into their new wildflower garden |
By Guardian reporter AN area of waste ground has been reclaimed by children at Oakdale Junior School who are going to use it for an envir�onment club.
The ground at the back of the Oakdale Road school was cleared by members of the British Trust Conservation Volunteers. Children from years five and six at the school joined them to help them lay paths, construct a pond, and plant a wild flower garden.
PTA member Dawn Lye said: "The area was once used for art and geography studies but it hasn't been used for a few years. When the kids went out there the interest and enthusiasm were great, they just like being out there."
Work will resume in the Autumn when fruit trees will be planted and the pond will be stocked with frogs, toads, and newts.
Funding for the work came from Roding, Snaresbrook and Wanstead Community Agenda 21 Committee after the school received advice from the Redbridge Conservation Group.
Mrs Lye said there had been no shortage of young volunteers to help with the work: "I think they are very keen to run out of the classroom. It's another way of learning but with a hands on approach."
The children will have to maintain their enthusiasm however if the garden is to remain. Mrs Lye said: "It's up to the kids to keep it from going wild again."
5:34pm Thursday 10th July 2003
Printer friendly formatMore Stories By This Author | 
