At Durham University’s Botanic Garden today, the winners are announced for this year’s ‘Grow with Esh’, the exciting project which has seen pupils at 20 of the region’s primary schools running around with their trowels and compost throughout the ‘summer’.  Today £5,000 prize money will be awarded – topping up the original £1,000 grants received by the schools.

Now in its second year, Grow with Esh 2008, was launched in May by north east construction company Esh Group’s charity; Esh Charitable Trust.  Following the success of last year’s ‘Grow with Esh’ project which benefited secondary and middle schools, around 40 applications were received and 20 were selected.

The scheme helps school children work with their teachers and communities to develop gardening and horticultural projects in or near their schools, in many cases transforming derelict and unused spaces.

£20,000 was shared by 20 primary schools from as far afield as Cornhill-on-Tweed, near Berwick and Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire.  The £1,000 grants were ‘seed-funding’ for projects selected and approved by the Charity.

Throughout the summer, despite the weather, the schools have been working hard on their projects and have been feeding back to Esh Charitable Trust on their progress.  Judges toured the schools in October to select the short listed schools – all of which attend the prize giving today.

The winners are:

• First prize - £3,000 - St Peter’s Church of England VC Primary School, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, N Yorks
• Second prize - £1,500 – Tyneview Primary School, Walker, Tyne & Wear.
• Third prize - £500 – Wolsingham Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, Co Durham

Four runners up were each awarded £100, Garden Centre Vouchers;
• Greatham Church of England Primary School, near Hartlepool
• Shilbottle First School, near Alnwick
• Biddick Primary School, Washington, Tyne & Wear
• Spring Gardens Primary School in North Shields

The top prize of £3,000 went to overall winner St Peter’s Church of England VC Primary School, Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire for their scheme.  Mr John Stinson, Headteacher, explained:
“The "Grow with Esh" project has provided the catalyst for bringing together the pupils of the school with members of the local community.  The project has enhanced the learning opportunities on the school grounds as well as giving the pupils hands on experiences.  They have all made a positive contribution to the life of the school through their growing programmes and have provided fresh vegetables for school meals since developing the vegetable plots and opening the polytunnel.”

Mr Bill Sones founder of Sones Landscaping, part of Esh Group, and judge of the project was overwhelmed with the achievements from all of the schools;
“This year’s ‘Grow With Esh’ has produced some marvellous schemes.  Many wonderful gardens have been created which have provided some excellent learning opportunities for children and really good collaboration with parents and the wider community.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting everyone – it’s been quite a challenge this year with schools spread as far apart as the Scottish border, North Yorkshire and deepest Weardale. It’s 130 miles from the north of the scheme to the south!”

Commenting on Grow with Esh 2008 and the work of Esh Charitable Trust, Chairman Austin Donohoe said:
“Grow with Esh is a great example of the work of Esh Charitable Trust. We work with young people, vulnerable people, communities and the environment to develop skills and healthy living.  This year we chose to work with younger pupils in primary schools throughout the North East and the feedback has been very encouraging - hundreds of young people have taken part and we are confident that the benefits will continue well into the future.

“We’re delighted to be holding the Awards at Durham’s Botanic Garden again – it’s a beautiful and fascinating place. The educational work of the Garden very much complements that of the Trust.”

During the competition over the summer months, progress has been reported to the Charity by means of photographs and school children’s diaries.   Advice has been 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.

Schools participating in 2008 included:
Durham
Wolsingham Primary School
Bowburn Junior School
Dodmire Infants' School, Darlington
St Hild's College Church of England Aided Primary School, Gilesgate
Witton Gilbert Primary School
Northumberland
Allendale First School, Hexham
Cornhill First School, Cornhill on Tweed
Northburn Primary, Cramlington
Shilbottle First School, Alnwick
St Mary CE, Berwick upon Tweed
Tees Valley
Galley Hill Primary School, Guisborough
Greatham Church of England Primary School, Hartlepool
Hemlington Hall Primary School, Middlesbrough
St Peter's Church of England V C Primary School, Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Tyne & Wear
Valley Road Community Primary School, Sunderland
Biddick Primary School, Washington
Colegate Community Primary School, Gateshead
Spring Gardens Primary School, North Shields
Tyneview Primary School, Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Whitburn Village Primary School, Sunderland

Esh Group has long since been synonymous with projects to support young people, with innovative schemes as ‘Fit for Employment’ setting high standards of collaboration between business and schools.

Durham University’s Botanic Garden, established in 1970, features specimen plants from all over the world.  This autumn sees the opening of woodland which has not been accessed previously and so is unaffected by human visitors.  Notable collections and features at the Botanic Garden include the Alpine and Winter Gardens, the Bamboo Grove, Japanese collection, the North American Arboretum, magnesium limestone flora, the Australia-Tasmania and New Zealand collections and the wonderful glasshouses which exhibit cacti which survive and thrive in arid climates and the tropical rainforest house which contains a unique collection of plants.  Durham Botanic Garden provides an ideal environment for teaching many areas of the national curriculum; numeracy, science, art and design, vocabulary and conservation through their education programme.