A COMMUNITY garden for a development in Barkway will be designed by primary school students.

The Year 3 youngsters from Barkway First School were given a chance to flex their mathematical muscles when they visited the site, making notes and measuring the size of the garden.

A tour of the 10-home North Herts Homes site was given by Jarvis Contracting’s project manager Nathan Herbert, as part of a Barkway Parish Council project.

Supported by teacher Sharon Brown and green-fingered resident Jenny Staff, the children will also produce written work and submit paintings for a team of judges to decide on the winning garden design for the Periwinkle Close site.

Mrs Brown: said “We look to enrich the curriculum in as many ways as possible, and the community garden is a good opportunity for this. The children are very excited and eager to submit their ideas.”

Kevin Thompson, North Hertfordshire Homes chief executive added: “The council has shown an admirable commitment to achieving long term benefits for the parish community, sharing ideas and helping the scheme move forward from the outset.

“The garden design project is a great way to round it off.

“It’s good to think that when these youngsters grow up, they may well be bringing their own children to the community garden they helped design.”