Shimna students get in the bloom

Shimna students get in the bloom

9 June 2021

EMMA Giles and Zara Thompson are carrying on the long tradition of Shimna Integrated College students working in partnership with Glen Fold in Newcastle.

A number of years ago, Shimna’s Prince’s Trust students undertook to dig out and gravel a sitting out area. During another year the group planted a wild flower border. Next came a set of waist height, accessible raised beds planted out with soup and salad vegetables.

This year, the girls chose environmentally-friendly felt planters to plant pumpkins, hoping for a Halloween harvest.

The girls were also excited to see evidence of all the gardening work undertaken by the Glen Fold residents, including newly planted flowerpots, one of the raised beds planted with strawberries, and bags of compost at the ready for further interesting planting.

Andrea Harrison, Radius Housing manager at Glen Fold, thanked the students for all they have been doing.

She remarked more of the residents had been enjoying the salad items, and she had been able to donate some of the items to the Fare Share project, so there is no waste.

Shimna principal Kevin Lambe said: “The Fold residents are our closest neighbours, and we in turn really appreciate the opportunity to be involved.

“Community projects are an important part of the work of the Prince’s Trust group and we value highly the ongoing links with Glen Fold.”