High School children knee high in mud

Pupils at Bexhill High School have been knee-deep in mud and weeds as they create their own war-time garden allotment.

Science teacher Sarah-Jane Bigby was inspired by a nationwide Dig For Victory project and when head teacher Mike Conn handed over a plot of land, her plans began to take off.

This week Sarah-Jane writes: "What started out as a tiny ripple of an idea has gained momentum and speed so that a virtual wave of interest, commitment and generosity is sweeping through the town of Bexhill-On-Sea. To say that I am impressed would be a great understatement.

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"Since our last article appeared in the Bexhill Observer the events that have taken place are quite amazing!

"I was informed by Tricia Randall, our Senior Science Technician, that through a friend at New Barn Farm she had managed to secure all the fertiliser we would need, and best of all it was free! It was to be delivered on the Tuesday evening at 5.30pm so I enlisted the help of two students, Jake Willard and Jamie Fry-Eldridge.

"Sure enough at 5.30 on the dot we saw a vehicle turn into Bexhill High's driveway. All three of us stand there with our chins heading towards the floor as a six ton trailer appears packed to the brim with horse manure! I start to wonder if two students will be enough!

"The trailer empties its entire contents onto the Building and Construction forecourt. By this time I am in fits of laughter, tears rolling down my cheeks, and two very concerned children are just staring at me with blank expressions! Well bless them, they worked until 7pm moving the manure onto the Dig For Victory site, but by the time came to leave we had barely put a dent in it!

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"The following day Jonathan Paulin, Jamie Fry-Eldridge and myself shifted wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow for the entire day and managed to move it all onto the dig site!

"Everywhere I go within the school they are talking about Dig For Victory and the fever is spreading. Our new all singing, all dancing Director of ICT Gary Newport stops me in the corridor and asks about the possibility of his ASDAN students taking over the section of the dig, where we are having a pond and small conservation area. I welcome him on board!

"Then at last the sign structure is complete and the team have worked really hard getting it ready. Here's Bradleigh Law putting in the holes for the framework. It looks brilliant and I cannot wait for the sign to go on it. Well done lads!

"I have now been enlisted by Mrs Symons to go into her GCSE Art class as a customer and give them a briefing on what I would like for outdoor sculptures to be placed within the finished area. They come over to the site, real excitement and enthusiasm comes into play as they start to pass some amazing ideas between one another! This will be part of their GCSE coursework and they can't wait to get started!

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"It really makes me smile when I see these children taking a bite from the educational apple, once they have a tasted the initial idea, they just get their teeth stuck in, and light bulbs start switching on all over the place, their enthusiasm is truly infectious.

"History have informed me that they wish to come on board and our year 9's do War World Two as part of their course so I have put them in touch with Alan Bearne the new activities organiser over at Mais House. They are arranging some cross generation groups to swap ideas and build positive bridges across the ages.

"Next we have Modern Foreign Languages asking what they can do - well, they teach a lot of food type words in their lessons so how about the 6ft herb wheel! They love the idea and away they go!

"I phone B&Q and speak Janet to ask if we can come down to spend the 100 they have donated. Michael Dix, our Premises Manager and myself go down there. The staff were fantastic especially Alex and Lee, we truly have an amazing few hours choosing shingle, wood chip, tools, seeds, turf and plants, they could not have been more helpful.

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"As you can see we have been so busy and everyone is really mucking in, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the following businesses and people of the local community for their support; Jewson Ltd, B&Q, Cee-Jay Signs, New Barn Farm, Chas Rowland, Peter Hewison, Nigel Edwards, Paul Reynolds, Warburtons Garden Centre, Liam Rowley at the Build Centre.

"If anyone would like to come onboard and join our project please feel free to contact me on 01424-730722 or email me at [email protected]."