Millbrook Garden Centre managing director Tammy Woodhouse, Millbrook operations manager Darren Baker join members of St Mary’s School Eco Club, Sydney Boyde, Connor MacHale, Jackson Willmott and Hannah Colbraw with headteacher Maria Cowler in the plot of land they are to transform into a wildlife garden.

Two primary schools in Crowborough have won the chance to have their gardens transformed by a team of professionals from the Millbrook.

Earlier this year we launched a community competition to find gardens in the Crowborough area in need of some tender loving care, with a pledge to perform a makeover on the winning entry.

However, as Millbrook’s managing director and head judge, Tammy Woodhouse says: “We had a lot of entries from different community groups. It was a tough decision, so we decided to pick two winners.” The winning schools are St Mary’s Catholic Primary School at Chapel Green and St John’s Church of England Primary School at School Lane, Crowborough.

At St Mary’s School the 196 pupils and staff want to create a path through to their newly acquired wildlife area and to make a wet area and small pond that will attract ‘mini beasts’ such as frogs, newts and insects. The children would then use the new garden as a living classroom to learn about conservation and the life of animals. Janice Logan, business manager at St Mary’s, said: “We are an eco-school and actively encourage the children to take an interest in and care for the environment around them.With Millbrook’s input we believe the St Mary’s Wildlife Project will create a very special area for our school community."

Ready to start work in the St John’s Friendship garden are Millbrook Garden Centre managing director Tammy Woodhouse, Millbrook operations manager Darren Baker, with gardening club members Josh Smith, Jasmine Fahy, Amy Dunnell, Emma Court, Emily Johnson, Beth Sugden and garden club teachers Juliet Davis and Nicky Tierney.

The children at St John’s Primary have worn the ground smooth beneath a large tree in their garden, making it a challenge for anything to grow in its shade. They would like to create a Friendship Garden with plants that appeal to the senses, through colour, texture and scent.

The garden would be enjoyed by around 220 children, including St John’s pupils and local residents who use the footpath through the school grounds. Juliet Davis, a teaching assistant at the school who nominated St John’s for the competition, said: “At the moment this is a barren space and we would like to create a garden where the children can sit or play and enjoy watching the plants grow. We have a gardening club, so once the experts at Millbrook have finished work on the area, the children will enjoy maintaining it.”

“We’re looking forward to starting work with both schools this September and seeing the new gardens grow,” adds Tammy.