A FRUIT-full secondary school has been rewarded with a gardening award after six years of hard work by the 11 to 16-year-oldpupils.

The Chantry School, in Martley, near Worcester, has developed a number of gardens in the school grounds including a mulberry tree courtyard and an orchard.

Students have also helped build a greenhouse, polytunnel, several raised beds, fences and also dug a pond, and kept it all with the help of the school’s groundsman.

The Royal Horticultural Society Campaign for School Gardening handed out its 100th level five school gardening award for all their green-fingered work.

School sustainability governor and gardening coordinator, Pat Owen, said: “I am so proud of the work in the garden the students have done, working through the action plans, in all weathers and being determined and productive in achieving our lovely school grounds and learning gardening skills for the future.

“The campaign has given a focus for our students and it never fails to move me the massive impact that these gardening moments can have on a young person’s life.”

The prize and plaque was presented to the Chantry School by Felicity Robinson, a landscape architect and director of outdoor learning service Landscapes Naturally.

She said: “What impressed me was the commitment of each cohort of young people to continue the work in the grounds each year, supported by Pat. The cumulative effect over the years makes a massive impact”.

The school has twice won a Gold award in the Heart of England in Bloom School Grounds category and has reached its fourth Green Flag Award with Eco Schools.