Troops called out for Harrogate school garden project

Soldiers from 14 Platoon P-Coy of the Army Foundation College helped to create raised beds, using topsoil donated by Arkendale landscape supplies firm Green-tech, for a community allotment at

New Park Primary Academy in Harrogate. — Soldiers from 14 Platoon P-Coy of the Army Foundation College helped to create raised beds, using topsoil donated by Arkendale landscape supplies firm Green-tech, for a community allotment at New Park Primary Academy in Harrogate.

Army apprentices and a Boroughbridge-based landscaping supplies firm have stepped in to help create a community growing project at New Park Primary Academy in Harrogate.

The school, which is part of the Northern Star Academies Trust, has landscaped part of its playing field to create an area for a community allotment. It is hoped that families will sign up to take ownership of a raised bed and grow vegetables for their own use. They also aim to help educate the children and create a stronger sense of community.

Green-tech, which is based near the A1(M) south of Boroughbridge donated 20 tonnes of topsoil for 50 raised beds, and soldiers from 14 Platoon P-Coy of the Army Foundation College at Pennypot, west of the town, did all the heavy lifting.

A spokesperson for Green-tech said: “We manufacture the Green-tree brand of organic topsoil at our production site at Rabbit Hill Business Park, so this is local to us, and we feel proud to have played our small part in helping to educate, feed and bring a local community together.”

Robert Mold, headteacher of New Park Primary Academy said: “We are grateful to Green-tech for their kind donation of topsoil for our community growing project.

“Green-tech’s support means we will be able to offer growing spaces to school families and local community groups. This generous contribution to our project will bring families and community together, benefitting from being in the outdoors and growing their own food on our school field.”