A FRIENDSHIP Garden to help unite diverse school pupils has been unveiled.

The garden at Christchurch Woodhouse Church of England Junior and Infant School, was opened with a multi-cultural party.

The garden is a project between the Deighton school and Cummins Turbo Technologies, Aspley, which donated £12,000 for material and 400 hours of labour to build and plant the garden.

Some 400 tonnes of hardcore and 40 tonnes of soil were also used to bring the garden level with the adjacent playground.

Cummins president Jim Lyons helped open the garden officially alongside the school’s 230 pupils.

The children, aged three to 11, planted seedlings and enjoyed cream teas.

The opening ceremony was accompanied by a steel band from Fartown High School.

The Friendship Garden, named by pupil Tarjanay Howe, has been created to represent the school’s pupils, who speak 19 different languages.

It will be used to educate the children about nature, horticulture and healthier lifestyles.

The garden will be open to the community and includes a vegetable plot, the produce of which will be used in the school kitchen.

The school and Cummins, which has joined the school’s board of governors, also plans to develop woodland adjacent to the garden.

Headteacher Jennifer Davies said: “Staff, governors and pupils have been determined to put the school at the heart of its community.

“We are bringing families together from culturally diverse backgrounds, developing a sense of respect and responsibility for others to the benefit of all.

“We aim to create an oasis of green in a built-up area for our children.

“The Friendship Garden is something through which we can link the community as we all have an interest in food and growing.

“It is important that children experience nature, the seasons and cycles to enjoy a sense of awe and wonder.”

Jim Lyons, president of Cummins Turbo Technologies, said: “Our community work focuses on three key areas: social justice, education and the environment.

“All three come together in a project such as this.

“Our company is only as good as the communities in which we work. It is in our interests to invest and give back to this community. One day these kids will be our employees.”