An exciting new project aimed at helping school children develop gardening and horticultural projects in or near their schools was launched today by north east construction company Esh Group’s charity; Esh Charitable Trust.

Twenty schools from as far afield as Hexham, Morpeth and Stockton today received cheques for £1,000 which will be used during the course of the summer to set up and develop their projects to compete for prizes totalling £5,000.

All secondary and middle schools throughout the North East were invited to send in ideas for a project which, through the participation of their students and some form of horticultural cultivation, would lead to the improvement of an outdoor area near to or connected with their school.  It is hoped that each project will be a catalyst for interaction with the community – perhaps as a school fundraiser or a local enterprise – as well as supporting classroom learning and highlighting such issues as healthy eating and entrepreneurship.

Throughout the scheme advice is available from experts at award winning horticulture and landscaping business, Sones Landscaping.  Part of Esh Group, Sones Landscaping has won many ‘Britain in Bloom’ awards and looks after a variety of contracts involving grounds and gardens throughout the North East at universities, schools and colleges, at retail parks such as the Metro Centre and Dalton Park, many of the regions’ Business Parks and at Wear Valley and Derwentside District Councils.

Commenting at the launch Councillor Brian Walker, a Trustee of the Esh Charitable Trust said;
‘Esh Charitable Trust firmly believes that the future of the region is dependent on its young people and so giving support to young people is an important objective for the Trust.

‘‘Grow with Esh’ is a new scheme and competition for Year 7 students.  In the  first instance we’re giving ‘seed funding’ grants to help schools start gardening and horticultural projects which will provide opportunities for fun and practical learning.  We also hope pupils will get involved with the wider community and other groups and perhaps even start some form of enterprise.’

Austin Donohoe, Chairman of Esh Group continued;

‘At Esh Group we have a ‘can do’ attitude.  We hope this project will be a real catalyst, involve as many pupils as possible and give support to schools to create projects which give the pupils the chance to show themselves what they ‘can do’.  We employ around 1,200 people in the north east and it’s true to say we recruit for attitude: resourcefulness and a positive approach to life are very important.  We want our employees of tomorrow to develop these attributes.’

The three best schemes will receive further monies: prizes of £3,000, £1,500 and £500 respectively following judging in the autumn term.  The projects will be continually assessed using photographic evidence and reports from the pupils throughout the year.  Fifteen of the twenty schools which have been awarded a £1,000 ‘seed funding’ grant were present at today’s launch.

Jenny Parker, Assistant Head of Year 7 at Ian Ramsey Church of England Voluntary Aided School in Stockton on Tees, said the project would be used to create strong links with feeder schools; Year 7 students would act as mentors in a competitive project to grow flower borders. 

Callum King and Jasmine May, pupils of Wensleydale Middle School in Blyth described how their project focussed on a sterile concrete floored courtyard within the school; ‘We have an Eco-committee and our project will involve Year 7 students working with Year 8 students to learn how to run the committee and we are going to grow vegetables in the courtyard, have a sunflower growing competition and create murals for the walls,’ explained Callum.

Wensleydale staff Mark Wright, science teacher and Susan Collins, art teacher, confirmed Callum’s description;
‘The project will work on lots of levels – from growing, tending, monitoring and cooking.  It will combine both science and art work and will extend to wildlife studies too.  In short, it’s a fantastic idea; we’re all really looking forward getting started.  The timing couldn’t be better it’s a perfect fit and will give us the means to really do what we wanted to do.’

Sarah Kemp, a parent from Corbridge Middle School attended the launch with two pupils;
‘We are all very excited about ‘Grow with Esh’.  It’s given us the opportunity to tackle a much neglected and highly visible area next to the school.  Everyone is really looking forward to getting it sorted out – the idea of a project which is beautiful and practical has fired everyone’s enthusiasm.  We made a DVD with the children who will be involved – as luck would have it one of the cameramen from ‘Ground Force’ has links with the school so that is a very helpful connection!’

Schools taking part include;

County Durham 
Consett Community Sports College Consett
Durham Community Business College Ushaw Moor
Easington Community School Peterlee
Fyndoune Community College Sacriston
Moorside Community Technology College Consett
St Bedes RC Comprehensive Lanchester
The Meadows School Spennymoor
Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive Spennymoor
Woodham Community Technology College Newton Aycliffe
 
Northumberland 
Corbridge Middle School  Corbridge
Guide Post Middle School  Choppington
St Benedict's RC Voluntary Aided Middle School  Ashington
Wensleydale Middle School  Blyth
 
Teesside 
Ian Ramsey Church of England Voluntary Aided School Stockton-on-Tees
St Michael's RC Comprehensive School Billingham
 
Tyne & Wear 
Margaret Sutton School South Shields
Ryton Comprehensive School Gateshead
Sandhill View School Sunderland
Seaton Burn Community College Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker Technology College Newcastle upon Tyne

Esh Group has long since been synonymous with innovative projects to support young people.  ‘Fit for Employment’ is an exemplar work related learning programme for young people widely acclaimed by the business community, educationalists, Government Ministers and students alike.  The scheme has run since 2004 and embraces a number of County Durham schools and guarantees the offer of 20 full-time permanent jobs with apprenticeships each year.