Shaw Primary School’s irrigation project has won a Sustainable Watermark Award for £467 to buy six water butts and three solar powered water pumps.
Wessex Water’s educational advisor, Gillian Smith, visited the school last week, at the start of their autumn term, to deliver their award.
Shaw C.E. Primary School has a flourishing garden in raised beds. The children enjoy the benefit of eating fresh vegetables which they have grown themselves and surplus vegetables are sold by the school as organic produce. Everything is grown in raised beds which all need to be kept watered in a dry spell.
“Our two water butts were never able to provide enough water, especially in a dry patch, and we wanted a more sustainable watering system then using clean tap water,” said Sharon Galloway from the school. “We came up with the idea for a proper sustainable irrigation system using three solar powered water pumps. These will pump the rain water from the water butts to the necessary level for the seeper hosepipes to water the gardens.
“We are thrilled with our Sustainable Watermark Award which has meant we can install this irrigation system immediately.”
The Watermark Award provides funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area. Now in its 22nd year, it has supported over 900 environmental initiatives. Organised by The Conservation Foundation, all projects are judged by a panel chaired by its president, David Bellamy.
