Youngsters get green fingers thanks to donations

A town garden centre has been giving youngsters the opportunity to get green fingers by donating plants to help learning outside of the classroom.

Marie Turner showing youngsters at Norwich Road Academy how to garden. Picture: thelivelycrew - Credit: Archant

Thetford Garden Centre has been donating to the Norwich Road Academy for the past two years with the centre offering play sand, compost and herbs.

Operations manager Marie Turner has been attending the school showing nursery and early year pupils prepare plant beds for growing their own vegetables including beans, peas and tomatoes.

Ms Turner said it offers youngsters who may not have a garden a chance to get hands on.

She said: "It's been really rewarding this year seeing the pride the children take in looking after the plants and being able to name them."

Jackie Stanton, a nursery class teaching assistant, said: "The plants have helped to support the development of healthy and active lifestyles by offering physical activity, as they enjoy contact with the natural world."