MP and Councillor Dig Deep for Cavendish Primary

9.59.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th May 2009

John Leech MP and Councillor Norman Lewis get their hands dirty.

John Leech MP and local councillors Lianne Williams and Norman Lewis helped Cavendish Primary School build a vegetable garden today.

John and Lianne joined volunteers as they attempt to build 17 raised beds brimming with compost and put together a shed and green house. The event is designed to create a hands-on learning environment for Cavendish's pupils that will get them familiar with science at an early age. The garden area will allow the children to cultivate plants and observe the processes of nature as the plants grow.

John said:

"I am very happy to help Cavendish school build this green area. I believe that teaching students in a fun and practical way is an excellent approach to education. I hope this will help sow the seeds of curiosity in the children to keep enjoying learning science as they get older."

Lianne said:

"This is a fantastic initiative, and is a step in the right direction for creating a more inclusive form of education that helps build communities and involve the whole family. This sort of venture should be encouraged in more schools and could help bolster the cause of saving schools' fields from being sold off."