GREEN FINGERED CDL INSPIRE SCHOOL PUPILS TO GET DIGGING

A team of green-fingered employees from Stockport-based insurance software house, CDL, have swapped the office for the vegetable patch in a bid to inspire a new generation of young gardening enthusiasts. The spade bearing volunteers dug in to the project that aims to teach pupils at Cheadle Heath Primary School about where flowers and vegetables come from – besides the supermarket.

Left: Green fingered cdl volunteers

A series of raised-beds have been built, providing each year group with their own designated area in which to grow plants of all varieties – from sunflowers to celery. As well as sending volunteers, CDL also supported the project by donating the materials and soil to make the planters.

Steve Orford, Head of Development at CDL, and volunteer, commented:

“It was great to see how excited the pupils were at the prospect of rolling up their sleeves and growing their own vegetables. They all had plenty of questions to ask and it just goes to show that children do want to know more about healthy food – including how it arrives on their plate!”

The project forms part of the CDL100 scheme – a highly successful initiative that sets aside 100 days each year to enable employees to give time to special projects and fundraising initiatives in the local community during working hours.

Miss C. Meekley, head teacher at Cheadle Heath Primary School added:

“We are delighted that CDL chose Cheadle Heath. The team worked with enthusiasm through wind and rain to create new allotments for each class and the children have thoroughly enjoyed planting seeds.  They are keen to grow their own produce and some have aspirations to grown enough to sell to parents!”