A magical place to learn

A magical garden has been created for Balderton pupils by their parent teacher association.

The FootSteps team at John Hunt Primary School created the garden for four and five year-olds during the Easter break.

The space will be known as the Jardin Magique — French for magical garden — and will provide reception children with their own area where to grow produce.

It will also provide space for outside learning and one-on-one activities such as reading. The garden includes a summer house with a kitchen and living area, pots for growing potatoes and carrots in, and a tractor tyre in which strawberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries will be grown.

There is a rockery area with a ladybird house and home-made wind chimes.

Other items include circular paving slabs painted to look like the sun, moon and earth, a washing line with mini clothes and a peg and laundry basket, a log seat, a sand pit, fruit trees and scented plants.

The garden was opened on Monday by the head, Mrs June Braddow.

The chairman of FootSteps, Mrs Helen Wroe, said the children were excited to discover the new garden.

She said: “The children were so fascinated with their new space and had so much fun looking at all the new things to do.”

Mrs Wroe said the garden was made possible through money raised by parents.

It is hoped to provide other garden areas for the older children.