Green-fingered school scores Wales in Bloom hat-trick

Their colourful garden of flowers, fruit trees and much else besides secured them joint first place in this year's prestigious awards aiming to showcase the best blooms in Wales.

The garden has long been a local community landmark and winner in the Swansea in Bloom competition and the garden supports lots of curriculum areas far beyond what can be taught in the classroom alone.

School head teacher Vanessa Taylor said their pride and joy is very much a collaboration between children at the school, staff, parents and Killay gardeners who give up their time to help out and offer guidance.

She said: "It's amazing to win the award three years in a row, it's a really outstanding achievement."

She added: "The school has had many years of success in being 'Swansea in Bloom' winners and have shared our school garden, ideas and planning with other schools in Swansea.

"We are a relatively small school with limited outdoor space but we strive to make every inch count! The sensory garden lends itself to plants to taste, a small pond/waterfall for sound, colourful plants and herbs for smell and a quiet seating area to sit and enjoy the garden."

Pupils are involved in all aspects of the school garden from planting their own hanging baskets, taking cuttings to repot the following year and preparing the soil. The pupils know about the importance of sustainability and collect seeds and pods for replanting the following year.

Pupils grow a mixture of flowers, fruit and vegetables and enjoy harvesting their crops. During the summer term, pupils sell plants to the school community that they have grown from seed. These funds are then used to purchase seeds etc for the following year.

Mrs Taylor said: "We have a range of raised beds which are used for both vegetables and flowers. We have found new ways to grow carrots and last year had a bumper crop from planting them in bottles. We also plant our own hanging baskets and window boxes as this is a manageable way for us to get everyone involved.

"Visitors to the school always comment on the school grounds and we enjoy sharing the beauty of nature with them, it's a real team effort!."

Robert Smith, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "Congratulations to everyone involved with the school garden. It's not easy to win a Wales in Bloom award and to do it three years in a row is a fantastic achievement.

"The imagination, initiative and hard work of Cila Primary School to produce such an outstanding garden that also contributes directly to pupils' learning experience is well worth celebrating."