Pupils enjoy garden after overgrown land reclaimed

Penny Wilson, a learning support assistant at Landau Forte Academy QEMS in Tamworth has given up hours of her own time

A school's garden is helping pupils relax and unwind after a member of staff reclaimed an overgrown patch of land and spent 18 months bringing it back to life.

Penny Wilson, a learning support assistant at Landau Forte Academy QEMS in Tamworth, Staffordshire, has given up hours of her own time to create a safe place for the children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

She also managed to secure a £5,000 community grant from Severn Trent Water which has paid for fencing at the pond, plus tools and flowers.

Pupils have embraced the garden and helped out by maintaining it, she said.

The land was completely overgrown

"Over the past few weeks we've seen all the flowers opening and it's just really nice to see the garden blooming," pupil Holly said.

"It feels nice to know that we did this."

Ethan said it was a nice place to come and sit if he was feeling anxious.

"It's very calming," he said.

Mrs Wilson said her husband and daughter had also helped her over recent months.

"Most school holidays, weekends, half terms... it's for the children," she said.

"This is a beautiful garden that our children can sit in, reflect, have the time out, self regulate, get their thoughts together and that's what we're finding helps."

More work will be done to create a vegetable path.

The land has now been transformed