School kids complete pet gardening project YOUNGSTERS in Weymouth are being given a breath of fresh air in honour of a key milestone in their school history.

Thornlow Preparatory School marked the beginning of its centennial celebrations by the completion of a two-year project to landscape a new garden area within the school grounds. Headteacher Rupert Fowkes said: “I’m extremely proud of the achievement and very excited about the up-and-coming events marking the school’s centennial year.”

Thanks to the landscaping and gardening expertise of Ian Clothier the school’s dreams of an ‘agricultural learning area’ has become a reality.

Pupils are delighted that they will be able to take some lessons outdoors. Landscaping of the garden and all of its features took around six months.

Lucy Clarke, head of marketing for Thornlow said: “The gardens are an area where the teachers will be able to engage pupils in various outdoor topics such as growing vegetables and learning how to grow plants.”

The event was very much a team effort with parents and teachers combining efforts to bake cakes and serve clotted cream teas on the day.

The parents and teachers also known as Friends of Thornlow had a wooden plaque created which reads: ‘Thornlow Centenary Gardens opened September 9’.

Lucy added: “It’s thanks to the hard work and efforts of Mr Clothier and Friends of Thornlow parents and teachers who worked incredibly hard to organise the garden party.”

Celebration planned

In the lead up to 2012 the Thornlow School has a number of special events planned to build up to the celebration of its centenary.

The events which will involve the community will be kick started with a Victorian Christmas Evening on Friday, December 2 and then followed by a Centenary Ball. Previous pupils include former Rear Admiral Christopher J Parry CBE a former naval officer who was the first Chairman of the UK Government’s Marine Management Organisation until 2011.

Staff would love to hear from anyone who has ever attended so that they may invite previous pupils to the official birthday party which will take place on September 25, 2012. Contact Lucy Clarke on 785703 or email lucy@thornlow.co.uk