Children at the Acorns Pre-School in Helmdon are developing their green fingers without the use of finger paints as they learn about growth and gardening in the pre-school's latest project.

The school has been given the use of a plot of land at nearby allotments. And, with the help of donations of plants and tools from Bell Plantation Garden Centre and the Helmdon Carnival Committee the children will be able to plant daffodils, broad beans, tulips, sunflowers and snowdrops and watch them over the coming months.

Bee Acxel from the Acorns Pre-School said: "It's a new idea, we got hold of an allotment this summer and we're having a dads and granddads night where they can come and dig it over.

"It looks very unprepared at the moment, but in a few weeks it should be looking a bit more like a garden."

The idea has received a lot of interest from parents whose children attend the school, which is held in Helmdon Reading Rooms, and an OFSTED inspector who visited the group was impressed when the proposals for the garden were first brought up.

The Brackley Post - 19th September 2003