Shaw Ridge Primary school is building a new community garden for the people of West Swindon to enjoy.

The primary school is creating a Unity Garden on the old site next to the current school, which will be available for people who live in the area to benefit from as well as an educational space for pupils.

Tony Wykes, site manager at the school is the man behind the project. He said: “When I started at the school back in April the bit of land at the side of the school where the old site used to be, was knee high in weeds and didn’t have a lot going on.

“The aim of the Unity Garden is to create an outdoor educational area where the pupils can develop their knowledge of the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, flowers and to help develop wildlife. Then once it’s established, we're very keen that it is also a space for t the local community. Produce can be distributed, visitors would be welcome or people can do some gardening themselves.”

Different areas will be created, including a beach area where children can learn about coastal erosion, a pond, a vegetable patch, raised flower beds for flowers and bulbs and an orchard area.

“We want the community to get involved and for them to come in and for it to be a place for them as well as the school,” Tony added.

“Once lockdown is over, we will be holding work parties, perhaps even the odd BBQ and getting local people in to bring the community feeling back.”

The school asked the pupils to come up with suggestions for the name of the garden.

Headteacher Sally Cowell said: “We had some lovely suggestions, but Unity Garden just seemed like the perfect choice because at that time we felt like we needed to be united against this common pandemic."

Tony added: “Unity Garden just shows what it’s about really – unifying the community with the school. It’s just a lovely name. Unity is what we are looking to achieve so lets use that."

The school is appealing for funding to create a poly tunnel greenhouse to use as an all-weather outdoor classroom where pupils can sow seeds as well as a shed to store equipment, among other things.

To get involved contact sitemanager@shawridge.swindon.sch or to donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anthony-wykes?utm_term=QydB4k2NX