AN innovative horticultural project at Tavistock College is set to blossom this year — and an appeal has been issued to local people for help in making it flourish.

The college is hoping to build an allotment on some of its land — it is the next step in a horticultural scheme started this term, which has seen the creation of a series of raised growing beds in the school courtyard.

Spring cabbages and broad beans have already been planted in these beds. It is hoped with the creation of the allotments, to be built behind the school kitchens, the school can produce a much wider variety of vegetables.

Teacher Helen Harris is pioneering the project, which was sparked by the success of the school's pets' corner. This now has chickens, guinea pigs and a hamster, and there are regular visits to the college by her pony, and a succession of dogs owned by staff at the school.

Helen said Year 10 students taking part in the college's BTEC in land-based studies have been most closely involved in the project, although students from other years are also connected, for example, egg collection is carried out by Year 7 students.

Year 10 students built the new raised beds, and the school's new 'egloo' for the chickens.

Helen said: 'We are averaging three or four eggs a day from the five chickens, which are being used in the school kitchens.

'The students are gaining practical skills which are really developing. In terms of gaining confidence and self-esteem, it's been tremendous.

'Some of the boys love having something really physical to do and they are proud of being able to do these tasks.

'The idea is for these children to learn to garden and to look after livestock. We live in a rural area and there will be jobs requiring these sorts of skills.

'We are also building links with Duchy College, in fact it was our Year 10 students who showed them around our new beds and the pets' corner.'

Also connected with the horticultural project is the college's small orchard, which was planted with rare, heritage Tamar Valley apple trees.

Now, as a result of a new partnership with the Eden Project, it is hoped to extend the orchard with quince trees, which are becoming increasingly scarce.

Helen said the students involved in the horticulture and animal care syllabi were not only gaining a qualification, they were learning practical skills with connections to more academic areas like literacy and numeracy. For example, daffodils will be planted, which in spring will be picked and sold by the students.

And the animals have a big part to play too.

'The guinea pigs are used in social skills groups. For example, if we have a group of students who maybe haven't settled in well at school or have other problems, just to sit and talk quietly with the animals can be invaluable.

'Children will sometimes sit and talk to animals when they wouldn't to a teacher — even just sitting stroking a small furry animal can be beneficial — and they also have to learn to share with others, because we don't have that many.'

Helen said an evaluation of the new horticulture project made just recently had been 'amazing', and she hoped the allotment scheme would be equally successful.

College principal Helen Salmon said: 'We have been delighted with the way our animal care course has developed and branching out to use the school grounds for horticulture is a major progression of this work.

'We are in the centre of a large rural community and we think it is important that our children develop the skills needed to obtain careers if they wish in rural industries. It is also vital that students have an understanding of their environment.

'We are seeking sponsorship and support from local businesses and individuals to develop the allotment with raised beds, plant an orchard and really improve the environment in our school grounds.'

The school has a 'wish list' and would be delighted if anyone can help.

It needs

l Topsoil

l Boards for raised beds

l Loan of a rotovator for a day

l Spare gardening tools, ie forks, spades and rakes

l Large plant pots

l Cloches

l A load-worth of rotted farmyard manure

l Fruit bushes or plants, eg raspberries, currants, strawberries.

If you can help, call Helen Harris at the college on 01822 614231 during school hours, or email [email protected]">[email protected]