| Classroom that grows
By Marg Stork
THE Springvale Lions Club has scored a first for Lions clubs throughout Australia.
For the past year the hardworking members of the rechartered club have created and supported a garden classroom at Springvale Heights Primary School in Wareham Street.
Their plan has since been taken on board by a number of other clubs.
They have erected an outdoor cyclone enclosed classroom with the help of Bunnings, Sandown Park and equipped it with a garden shed and garden beds.
President Ted Portbury said the pupils were keen to be taught the joys of gardening.
Mr Portbury said the small club raised funds by holding barbecues and garage sales and also from the sale of Christmas fruit cakes and puddings.
Springvale Heights welfare officer Tarryn Faithful said the plan was to grow vegetables, and harvest them, and to use the vegetables in recipes created from them.
"We also have hopes of starting an Asian herb garden which the parents of our students could enjoy. The outdoor classroom is about the size of an ordinary indoor classroom."
Ms Faithful said the school was also looking for the best water conservation method it could utilise as the drought had delayed the planting program envisaged.
Any local nursery which can assist the school with donations of vegetable seedlings can contact Tarryn Faithful during school hours, 95480885.
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