Young gardeners grow with pride at Tatton

PRIDE . . . back row, from left, Rebecca Lee, Katie Sexon, Alan Andrew (horticultural teaching assistant at Kaskenmoor), Nichola Lloyd. Front row, from left, Steven Kuhnert, Ateeq Hussain, Roger Maycock (vocational co-ordinator) and Jordan Dolleman

YOUNGSTERS who helped to create an award-winning garden at Tatton Park flower show have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Pupils from eight schools brimmed with their own pride when the “Cultivating Young Minds” garden won a bronze medal at the North-West’s premier flower show, which attracts thousands of visitors in July every year.

The accolade was the culmination of months of preparation which saw them grow flowers, herbs and vegetables from seed, build bird boxes, wicker wigwams and wind chimes, and create colourful mosaics.

And a group of 80 pupils drawn from the eight schools paid a visit to the show to perform a specially choreographed 12-minute dance to dazzle visitors.

The schools involved were New Bridge School and its post-16 learning centre in Fitton Hill, Holy Family, Kaskenmoor, Limehurst, Limeside, Lyndhurst and St Margaret’s, while helpers were also drafted in from the Children’s Centre in Limeside.

The garden aimed to show how different paths can lead to the same destination, with smooth, organised parts representing young people who travel quickly and easily through the education system, while thorny plants in a disorganised setting showed the path of youngsters who struggled to meet their goals.

Roger Maycock, vocational co-ordinator at Newbridge Learning Centre, was involved in the project, and said: “The pupils all had a hand in a wide variety of things.

“It was a brilliant collaborative effort pulled together by Samantha White, schools co-ordinator. The young people absolutely enjoyed the whole experience.

“They were very proud and they all spent time at the flower show handing out leaflets and talking to people about their garden.”

l Nominations for this year’s Pride in Oldham awards close this week


To nominate someone for a Pride in Oldham award, tell us:

The name of the person or group nominated

A contact number for them, if known

Their job title and place of work, if relevant

Your reason for the nomination

Your name

Your contact number

Send your info by email to editorial@oldham-chronicle.co.uk, marked “Pride in Oldham Awards, 2008


Pride in Oldham is supported by:

Innovative Technology

J W Lees Brewery

Molnlycke Health Care

Northern Counties Housing Association

Oldham Council

University Centre Oldham

Warburtons