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The creative efforts of a group of five Pembrokeshire schoolchildren were rewarded recently as their work was showcased during a visit with HRH The Prince of Wales.
The Year 10 Ysgol y Preseli students teamed up with staff from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and Urdd Pembrokeshire to create a memorial garden using recycled materials.
HRH The Prince of Wales meets pupils from Ysgol Preseli xl club in Llanelli.
They were joined by Kelly Anderson from the European Project ‘Reaching the Heights’ and all worked as part of the Princes Trust xl clubs programme to create an oasis of calm for their garden, in a busy school environment.
Park Authority Ranger Richard Vaughan said: “Their hard work was recognised by an invitation to meet HRH The Prince of Wales as part of the opening of a new Prince’s Trust Cymru Office in Llangennech, Llanelli on July 13th.
“This wildflower garden, created in memory of a past pupil, was developed completely without mechanical help which is some achievement.
“We used recycled materials as much as possible, such as slate to top an all-access pathway, and metal obelisks to create height in wildflower areas.
“A bath was planted with fragrant herbs and strawberries, a mountain ash tree was planted, and everything was labelled bilingually with outsized labels.”
(Left to right) xl executive Donna Davies, Kelly Anderson and National Park Authority Ranger Richard Vaughan with Ysgol Preseli xl students in Llanelli.
Gerry O’Sullivan, xl Manager for The Prince’s Trust Cymru said: “The young people worked extremely hard to make this project such a success. Prince’s Trust xl clubs give young people the space and attention they need to learn skills and confidence as well as to form a sense of ownership over their work and own development. Our schemes are proven to work, and we want to work with more teachers across Wales to give vulnerable young people the skills and confidence to succeed.”
The garden project was funded by a grant from Think Big with O2, and a donation from the school. The garden project was part of an alternative curriculum based learning approach, which targets 14-16 year olds to develop personal and social development while rewarding them with a nationally recognised qualification at the end of the two-year programme.
For more information on xl clubs go to www.princes-trust.org.uk.
Published 27 July 2012
