Priory’s gardener helps more than just the flowers grow!

Penwortham Priory Academy’s gardener has found a willing apprentice who is helping the school bloom.

 

Mr Farron has been developing the outside spaces at Priory into a sensory garden, a memorial garden, a quiet place with a running fountain and more for a number of years – all of which can be used by the community as well.

 

He now has a helping hand of budding horticulturalist and surveyor in Year 7 pupil, Alfie Pinder, who is Mr Farron’s ‘right hand man’.

 

“Alfie’s dad, Greg Pinder, owns S&G Plant Hire in Whitestake, Preston and he was keen for Alfie to learn about things like surveying and levelling,” said Mr Farron.

 

“Alfie is excellent at mathematics and he wanted himself to do some hands-on construction work. His Head of House, Mrs Bailey, arranged it and it has been a blossoming working relationship ever since.

 

“Alfie helps me when he is free, early morning, so it doesn’t interfere with his curriculum and we will be extending it as he has passed his trial period.

 

“He loves planting veg and helping out, and S&G Plant Hire have also let us use their machinery if needed, but it’s more than that.  It has opened Alfie up more as a person. He is a lot more confident; I can’t shut him up now!”

 

Alfie and Mr Farron are working on a herbaceous garden in the quadrant which they hope to form part of their Penwortham in Bloom entry.

 

Priory have won Penwortham in Bloom twice and have also won a prestigious North West in Bloom award for the work Chris has done at school.

 

“I had two boys a couple of years ago who got involved when I was making the sensory garden,” said Chris. 

 

“They weren’t the most academic but it really brought them out of their shells. Both now work in landscaping and gardening and I am proud of that.”

 

In April Mr Farron was successful in completing the ‘Introduction in Beekeeping’ one day course at Samlesbury Hall, run by The Bee Centre.  Although we will not be encouraging bees to come to areas enjoyed by pupils at Priory, Mr Farron learnt to how we can make a meaningful contribution to create a healthy environment for the creatures.