Schools

The Tameside in Bloom entry into the Britain in Bloom competition is supported by the activities of the borough's schools.

The Tameside Eco-Schools project began in 1997 when six primary schools launched the pilot phase of the project. In each year since, further cohorts have joined the project. Currently over half of Tameside primary and special schools are actively involved in the project. Tameside schools currently undertaking projects which feed into Tameside in Bloom include:

• St Mary's RC Nursery and Primary School, Denton
• St Mary's Primary School Droylsden
• St Christopher's Primary School, Ashton
• St Stephen's Primary School, Droylsden
• Manchester Road Primary School, Droylsden
• St Peter's Primary School, Ashton
• Littlemoss High School, Droylsden
• Holden Clough Primary School, Ashton
• Flowery Field Primary School, Hyde
• Canon Burrows Primary School, Ashton
• Hollingworth Primary School, Hollingworth
• West Hill High School, Stalybridge
• Broadoak Primary School, Ashton
• Greswell Primary School, Denton

Grow to Grow Project

In 2006 Tameside in Bloom launched a new project for Tameside schools called "Grow to Grow". The scheme gives children an opportunity to grow vegetables on a small allotment or in containers, within their own school grounds.

The aim was to encourage young children to grow fruit and vegetables. The scheme helped pupils understand where vegetables come from, how they are grown, how they are fun to grow and most importantly, how vegetables can help them grow up strong and healthy.

Sponsors joined us to help get the scheme off the ground. Scottish Grass Machinery provided a tractor and mini-rotivator for one week free of charge. Amenity Landscape Services, Shropshire, donated 10 bags of Mycromax compost per school. Ladybrook Nursery, Bramhall, donated some containers for one of the schools which didn't have suitable ground to grow vegetables in.

Around 14 schools took part in the scheme throughout Tameside and Allotment holders also got involved by providing advice. Each school received the help of an experienced allotment holder.

The schools involved were:-

• St. Stephens Primary, Chapel Road, Droylsden
• Fairfield Road Primary, Fairfield Road, Droylsden
• Littlemoss High, Cryer Street, Droylsden
• St. James Primary, Romney Street, Ashton
• Dale Grove School, Wilshaw Lane, Ashton
• Cannon Burrows, Oldham Road, Ashton
• West Hill High, Stamford Street, Stalybridge
• Copley High, Huddersfield Road, Stalybridge
• Longdendale Comm College, Spring Street, Hollingworth
• Hollingworth Primary School, Market Street, Hollingworth
• Holy Trinity Primary, Higham Lane, Hyde
• Dowson Primary, Marlborough Road, Hyde
• Oakfield Primary, St. Marys Road, Hyde
• Pinfold Primary, Hattersley Road East, Hattersley
• Dane Bank Primary, Thornley Lane South, Denton
• Lyndhurst Primary, Hill Street, Dukinfield

The initial scheme to get the schools started continued for 12 months. These schools are now operating self sustaining projects, and in many cases the original projects have expanded. The Tameside in Bloom team continue to provide advice to schools within the borough.