Greenhouse prize is touch of glass

STILL growing . . . (back, from left) Adrian Grocott and Simon Fenton (Costain), Mayfield deputy head Dave Simpkin and Paul Howells (Costain). Front: Kailey Mellor, Luke Bennett and Nicola Irving

A DERKER school’s eco-friendly credentials have been rewarded with a greenhouse to help grow their efforts further.

Mayfield Primary School missed out on a top prize of £6,000 in a Help the Environment competition for schools across Greater Manchester.

But competition organisers Costain were so impressed with the school’s entry that it offered to support a greenhouse project.

The school had made a film and presentation on eco developments it has carried out and what it wants to redevelop.

Costain, a construction firm that’s designing and building waste sites in Greater Manchester, initially offered materials and labour free of charge to construct the greenhouse but then followed it up with a £300 cheque from itself and £500 from waste management company Viridor-Laing to develop the project further.

Mayfield deputy head teacher Dave Simpkin said: “It’s fantastic as it’s quite expensive.

“The £800 was completely unexpected. We have done extremely well out of them and are absolutely delighted.

“It will be enough to get us going with a decent greenhouse as well as soil and plants. It’s quite exciting.”

The greenhouse project is part of the school’s efforts to create what it calls Mayfield Woods — an oasis of tranquility featuring a willow tunnel, outside reading circle and tree planting.

The school has impressed with its environmental efforts, including being one of the first to do plastic and glass recycling, reducing the number of non-recycling bins and introducing composting.

Mr Simpkin added: “We have worked really hard on the school grounds and getting children into recycling. It’s a nice little oasis we have developed.”