GREEN FINGERED pupils at a Newport school are celebrating after their garden project was given a funding boost.

St Julian’s School received a total of £2,700 from the National Lottery Awards for All programme and the Newport Community Endowment Fund to put towards buying fencing and equipment for their organic garden. Around 65 pupils in the school’s Learning Development Centre (LDC) will now be able to plant and grow their own produce and encourage healthy eating.

Mark Rowland, the school’s business manager, said: “We are delighted to secure this funding for such an exciting project which will enable LDC pupils to learn new skills and enrich what is currently provided at the school.

“We would like to thank the Lottery and Newport Community Endowment Fund for their generosity and Morris’ Grounds Maintenance Ltd for kindly helping prepare the land and donating seeds to kick-start the project.”

Eileen Young, LDC head, said: “The pupils are very excited about this new project and the staff are keen to develop this very important aspect of our provision.

“We plan to invite parents in to involve them in the work with their students.

This work is tremendous for the students, their life skills and their parents.”