A new garden which the children of Carbrooke Church of England Primary School designed and helped create has won the first Bishop of Norwich Environment Prize for Schools.
The children have been involved with everything from clearing weeds and debris from an overgrown and unused corner of the grounds to painting the fencing, and deciding what to plant.
The garden is still under construction and they plan to add a barefoot trail, a covered seating area and lots more plants.
The Bishop of Norwich visited St Peter and St Paul Carbrooke, near Watton, to present the prize.
He said: “What a wonderful garden! The children have designed it, helped create it, and as it takes shape they are passionate champions of their new space. They took inspiration from Norwich Cathedral and added a labyrinth; they cleared debris and painted fences. It is a joy to award them the first Bishop of Norwich Environmental Prize for Schools and I very much look forward to finding out what they will do next as they continue to develop their Spiritual Nature Garden.”
The project was led by reception class teacher Mrs Keely Cunningham and members of the School Council, which is made up of two children from each year-group. The children were thrilled that their project was chosen to win the inaugoral prize.
The children on the school council, aged from four to 11, helped make many of the decisions about the garden and have been involved in the practical work too. Ten-year-old Lily said: “We wanted to make it into something special.”
Mrs Cunningham said they were all very grateful to the Friends of Carbrooke School who carried out the ground work.
The garden includes a labyrinth inspired by the one in the cloisters of Norwich Cathedral, a central cross and cross-shaped raised beds which will be planted with flowers and herbs.
The £1,000 award will help buy sensory plants and herbs, more seating and spiritual quote boards for the garden. Mrs Cunningham said: “We wanted to make a peaceful place where children can go to reflect in nature.”
“We are very proud to win the award; it will make a big difference to the amount of work we can do with the garden.”
The Bishop of Norwich Environment Prize for Schools was launched to recognise projects run by Church of England primary schools across the Diocese of Norwich such as wildlife areas, gardens, nature clubs or recycling initiatives.
St Peter and St Paul Carbrooke Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery is part of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust.
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