AN allotment garden is being built at a Ribble Valley primary school after it was awarded £12,000 in grants.

Youngsters at Barnacre Road Primary School in Longridge hope to officially open the garden by the spring after being given £10,600 from the National Lottery and £1,400 from Ribble Valley Borough Council.

The Community Food Growing Garden scheme will be used by every pupil at the school and headteacher Simon Wallis hopes to get pensioners from the community to lend a hand as well.

He hopes to invite them in to school to pass on gardening skills to the pupils and the vegetables will be used in the school kitchen —to feed the youngsters and their helpers.

The funds have been used to buy soil and compost, apple and pear trees, fencing, paths, compost bins, a wormery, tool shed and polytunnels.

The garden will feature a raised bed for each year group.

Mr Wallis said: “It’s going to be a fantastic resource for the school to have and it will be great to get older people and the pupils side by side in the garden.

“They have a lot of life experience that they could pass on to the children.

“The garden will help to reinforce their learning about eating healthily and I hope it makes a difference.”

Teacher Sam Mosley said: “The children are very excited by the garden and helped with the design. Every Thursday will be roast dinner day at the school for local elderly residents, who will be helping us throughout the year in the garden.”

The council’s partnership officer, David Ingham, said: “Educating children on the importance of healthy food and environmental sustainability is now considered an important role for local authorities and schools.

“We have identified primary and secondary schools in Ribble Valley that want to join the scheme, and are in a position to support them in finding and funding their own food gardens.”