[25th July 2023]

Djanogly Sherwood Academy pupils create vertical vegetable garden with national climate action prize

Green fingered Djanogly Sherwood Academy pupils are creating an innovative vertical vegetable garden after winning a national climate action prize.

Pupils at Djanogly Sherwood Academy, Sherwood Rise, which is Ofsted graded ‘good’, recently won £1,000 from the organisation Let’s Go Zero.

The national campaign for zero carbon schools aims to help school staff and pupils create inspirational climate action projects.

Djanogly Sherwood Academy was one of only 10 schools nationally to win an Ovo Foundation Nature Prize of £1,000, announced in April 2023. Another 15 schools won £200.

Judges selected the most creative entries that had the power to inspire young people and the wider school community.

Now pupils are getting to work and using the prize money to invest in and plant Hydroveg Kits in the school playground.

The growing kits aim to make gardening easy. Known as hydroponic gardening, although the plants require water to grow, they do not need soil and weeding to thrive.

The plants, which grow in vertical containers, can also be placed in confined spaces.

When the next academic year starts, in September 2023, the plants will be looked after by the school’s green team comprising pupils from every year group.  

Produce grown by the children will be given to pupils and their families.

Hayley Keen, Headteacher, Djanogly Sherwood Academy, said: “We aim to provide an exciting and stimulating learning environment for all.

“It is fantastic to see our pupils’ inspiring ideas win funding for a gardening project that will benefit our school, nature and our local environment.”

Djanogly Sherwood Academy is part of Djanogly Learning Trust, which comprises nine schools in the East Midlands.

Liz Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Djanogly Learning Trust, said: “It is great to see Djanogly Sherwood Academy pupils showing such a keen interest in nature and taking positive action to make a difference to their community and the planet.”