A HOUSEBUILDER has stepped in to help a primary school take on the RHS Malvern Spring Festival’s School Garden Challenge for a second consecutive year.

Malvern Wells CE Primary School has received sponsorship from Bovis Homes for its entry into this year’s event.

Staff, parents and pupils hope that their creation, entitled My First Day at School, will bring back childhood memories for visitors.

“The theme we were given for the festival this year was A Moment in Time,” said Chris Bayley, a volunteer parent at the school.

“We had some brilliant ideas from the pupils and after casting a vote, My First Day at School came out top.

“It’s a great idea because it’s a moment in time that resonates with everyone – the children creating the garden as well as those visiting our entry at the festival.”

The four-metre square garden will be divided into two parts, inside and outside the school.

The garden will illustrate a classic classroom scene, with some of the space representing the popular forest school, which is an area many of the students particularly remember on their first day.

The garden will include a range of school items, including shoes, bags and water bottles, which will adorn the garden with plants growing out of them.

In addition to coming up with the ideas for the design, the group of pupils, aged between six and 11, have also been involved in seeking sponsorship, planting and growing the shrubs and building items ready to install in the garden when they get to the showground in May.

“We are delighted to be involved with Malvern Wells Primary School again this year,” says Stephanie Spry of Bovis.

“It was great fun last year, and the school’s creation looked fantastic. The design for this year’s garden looks excellent again and we can’t wait to see it come alive.”

RHS Malvern Spring Festival is taking place from Thursday, May 9, until Sunday, May 12.