In 2014 St Mary's School in Bridport launched its edible garden, and since then children at the school have learnt about organic gardening and grown vegetables for school lunches.

Now Bridport Primary School has a forest garden, opened with a big launch event. Teachers, parents, pupils and friends of the school came to support and celebrate the second Edible Garden opening. There was delicious hot food from Giles at Luscious Bowls of Tasty Yum, a brilliant egg hunt, a photo display of the garden's story and refreshment drinks and cakes.

After full consultation with the pupils' School Council, months of fundraising and the work of a dedicated team of volunteers, the school's new fruit and vegetable garden was launched. It is designed as a Forest Garden, an allotment with perennial plants and trees and a place for wildlife. This form of garden is sustainable and can adapt to the changing climate while encouraging biodiversity. A pond, raised beds, soft fruit, and a wild area. It will also include a polytunnel.

The tunnel is important for protection from bad weather. The plan was to raise the polythene cover for the roof, but this had to be postponed due to the wind. Michaela Kite, the headteacher, put a positive spin on this " this is excellent because we will have another gathering on May 12 to do that".

Transition Town Bridport, Home in Bridport and Opera Circus, the latter a performing arts organisation based in Bridport, are the charitable bodies that have raised the money through their fundraisers, Tina Ellen Lee and Sarah Wilberforce. Tina said: "Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation was so generous in supporting this essential cause, especially post-covid where playing, growing and eating outside is healthier and safer. This edible garden will provide a great educational resource to show children how we can grow food and also to study nature. Other local charities who gave generously were the Rotary Club of Bridport, Co-operate Community Fund, Wessex Water Foundation, Bridport Town Council, Dorset Council and Morrisons; thanks also to Kitson & Trotman for their support of St. Mary's Edible Garden.

The school community raised a magnificent £1,000 through Just Giving to install a classroom/shed, supplied at a heavily discounted rate by Groves; and a teacher and a parent organised a supply of garden tools from Morrisons 'Good to Grow' scheme. More fundraising events are planned at the school, and the Edible Garden team is seeking sponsors to pay for a part time gardener/teacher. We are calling for parents with green fingers to volunteer on alternate Thursdays – please contact [email protected].

Photos: Robert Golden

Sarah Wilberforce

Edible Garden Team, Bridport