WRITER and broadcaster Eric Robson has helped Egremont students get green fingered after opening their new garden.

Mr Robson, chairman of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time, visited West Lakes Academy to cut the ribbon on its newly-created garden, which was once waste land.

Over the last 12 months, learning support assistant Tess Richardson and her students planted seeds and watched them grow so the produce can be used in the classroom.

Mrs Richardson said: “The students have worked very hard to get the project off the ground and the garden opening has been a wonderful way of celebrating this. We now have a 20 by 12 foot polytunnel, nine raised beds and a metal container acting as a potting shed.

“We’re also involved in the “Let’s Grow” scheme from Morrisons and, thanks to staff and students, we were able to save enough vouchers to get seeds, propagator and net tunnels to protect the young plants.”

Mr Robson spoke about the importance of encouraging the younger generation to take an interest in gardening and the environment as governors, staff and students attended the opening as well as enjoying scones and cakes.

Mrs Richardson said: “The students have really enjoyed making the garden and have learnt a lot, including working as a team, how plants grow and how to tend them and we’re all looking forward to learning more in the future.”