Oak Grove College students make plea to growers to take its plant sale into the community

Sixth formers at the college for young people with special educational needs are looking for donations of seeds and surplus plants, especially vegetables, from gardens and allotments.

They also need more volunteers who are prepared to run plant sales from their own homes, in support of Oak Grove, to make the annual fundraising event work under Covid-19 restrictions.

Teacher Carol Noble, who is part of the organising team, said: “Rather than receiving and selling a lot of plants from just one place, we are looking at receiving and selling batches of a few plants from lots of different places - and we will also run a delivery service of plants to customers’ homes.

“So, whether you are an allotment holder, part of a gardening club or a keen home horticulturalist, we’d love to hear from you and the students would really value your support.”

Normally, pupils spend time growing on and selling plants donated by a local nursery, building up stocks for the two-week sale each May.

The sale can typically raise more than £2,000, which helps fund extra equipment and community outings for the school.

It also provides valuable opportunities for the students to learn skills in horticulture, customer service and money handling.

This year, the nursery is unable to donate plants and the college is also concerned about whether it will be able to welcome visitors to the school, in The Boulevard, for the sale, which runs from May 17 to 28.

For more information, or to offer your support, email Carol and colleagues at [email protected]