Birch Tree Community Forest Garden is finally in full bloom after residents from Stalybridge helped to transform a disused piece of land into a flourishing communal garden.
And after 12 weeks of hard work, local school children from Silver Springs Academy joined residents to commemorate the completion of the garden on School Lane by burying a time capsule in a special celebration.
The Year 4 children wrote letters which they placed inside the time capsule, about their own interests, current news as well as asking future readers about the planet and climate change.
One pupil, Jacob wrote: “We are learning how to save the planet using the Global Goals. Have you got rid of all the plastic from the ocean yet?”
Zosia described life during the pandemic, “We had to home learn for a very long time and stay at home and not go out anywhere. But happily, it has finished and we are all great.”
The Jigsaw Homes Neighbourhood Engagement Team set up the gardening project which was led by Victoria Holden of Northern Lily.
As well as burying their time capsule, the children explored the budding flowers, fruits and vegetable patches and searched for insects. They even learned from residents how the garden had been created and how it will support wildlife and be used by the entire community.
They then sewed sunflower and beetroot seeds which will be gifted back to the school once fully bloomed and flowered.
As the community garden grows and attracts wildlife, it is hoped that a Forest School can be created to allow local children to explore the natural world and learn about the wildlife that lives there.
