Deborah Neeves from St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Sheerness was awarded the Optivo Natures Champion award at this year’s Kent wildlife trust’s ‘Wild about Gardens’ ceremony at Canterbury College on Thursday 25^th October.

Deborah was nominated for the award by the Kent wildlife trusts judge who visited the academy back in July. She came to see how the children of St Edward’s Catholic Primary were gardening for wildlife in their academy grounds. The judge was very impressed with Deborah’s commitment and determination in a year when the academy had gone through many changes and her encouragement in getting the children to engage with nature. St Edward’s Catholic Primary won a bronze award for their wildlife gardening efforts.

Quote form Ali Corbel (Swale in bloom coordinator): I am delighted to see Debbie receive this award for all her hard work with the garden club children. As well as entering wild about gardens, she entered St Edward’s Catholic Primary into the RHS regional In Bloom awards where they won a Gold Award. The club also submitted a Mr McGregor scarecrow for the Kent garden show competition and she arranged for some children to sow poppy seeds at the Sheerness war memorial as part of the 2014-18 commemorations. Debbie has been really committed to the gardening club over the past 3 years and it is good to see her efforts being rewarded. #St Edward’s Catholic Primary School Sheerness