Cash boost will help these youngsters get green project off the ground – quite literally

Ambitious plans to create a rooftop city garden by a Croydon school have been given a boost with an award from a national foundation.

Chestnut Park Primary School, in St James’ Road, has been awarded a £1,000 cash boost by the OVO Foundation to help with its city roof garden, and to re-plant the school’s flower beds to encourage more pollinators to visit.

The OVO Foundation Nature Prize aims to make schools, colleges and nurseries greener and bring them closer to nature. They are invited to apply with details of their inspirational project, and the Foundation chooses which 25 to support.

“We are a winner for our determination to bring children in the city closer to nature and for improving biodiversity,” said executive headteacher Rachel Jacob.

“It’s great news for the school and means we can help show our pupils and community the importance of creating space for nature – like our roof garden and flower beds. We can’t wait to see the difference our projects make,” she added.

Energy company OVO works in partnership with climate charity Ashden’s Let’s Go Zero initiative, and invites schools to bid for awards which can be used for projects ranging from vegetable patches to rewilding. It offers ten prizes of £1,000 and 15 of £200 for the winning ideas.

Mrs Jacob said that the school, a member of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust, had also signed-up to Let’s Go Zero for teaching resources and ideas.

Pictured top: Pupils from the school celebrate gaining the award (Picture: Chestnut Park Primary School)