Sandylands School’s Eco-Garden: A Green Revolution

Morecambe’s Sandylands Primary School is buzzing with excitement as they break ground on a pioneering eco-garden project. This initiative promises to transform unused land into a vibrant, pupil-led space for nature, wellbeing, and ecological learning.

Located behind the school’s Balmoral Road buildings, this green endeavour is made possible by a generous £47,000 investment from West End Morecambe Big Local (WEM), a community partnership dedicated to improving the area. Lancashire County Council also lends its support, ensuring the project’s success.

What makes this project truly special is its child-centric approach. Following an innovative pupil forum by WEM, the children expressed a desire for a green space they could call their own. In response, Sandylands’ Pupil Parliament formed an eco-committee to design the garden, featuring growing areas, polytunnels, bug hotels, bird feeders, and more. A memorial bench will honour beloved school governor June Ashworth amidst herbs and strawberry planters.

The garden, aligned with the school’s Climate Action Plan, will be woven into the curriculum, enriching science, environmental studies, and wellbeing activities for all students, from nursery to Year 6. Pupils will cultivate vegetables for the school’s “source local” kitchen, take them home, or even sell them as young market garden entrepreneurs.

Construction is set to finish by March, with spring planting and landscaping to follow. A formal opening around Easter will perfectly coincide with longer days, allowing children to dive into hands-on learning. The school welcomes local businesses to support the project by donating tools, wellies, and outdoor resources.

With the Eden Project on the horizon, Sandylands School aims to be at the forefront of sustainability, fostering a greener future for Morecambe.