School pupils in Portslade have made a greenhouse from 1,500 recycled plastic bottles.
The eco-greenhouse was made as part of a project to create a working allotment by pupils, parents, staff, residents and other volunteers.
Kate McAllister, a teacher at Portslade Community College (PCC), said: “The aim of the project is to create a working allotment for the community.
“The project will raise awareness about sustainable living, improve the biodiversity of the community, teach students and families how to ‘grow their own’ and hopefully in the near future provide organic produce to take home or turn into delicious things to eat on site.
“Students are learning a range of skills, including how to rethink, reuse and recycle before binning and they have even learnt how to build stairs out of recycled wood.
“We currently have fruit, flowers and vegetables successfully sprouting all over our allotment and 1,500 fewer bottles in landfills.
“On behalf of PCC I would like to thank Sussex Police for all their support with the project, including the donation of the tomato plants.”
Sussex Police donated £400 towards the equipment and plants and contributed sacks of bottles collected by officers and staff at Hove Police Station.
The project began at PCC’s Chalky Road site in Mile Oak last October as part of the global One Day on Earth project.
Weekend sessions on the allotment have been attended by students, families, local residents and teachers from PCC and Mile Oak County Primary School, in Graham Avenue, Portslade.
The completed the greenhouse on Saturday (14 May).
The seeds planted by Year 6 students should be fully established when they become students at PCC – to be reopened as the Portslade Aldridge Community Academy – in September.
Neighbourhood schools officer PC Vicky Jones co-ordinated the input from Sussex Police.
She said: “Sussex Police is delighted to support such a wonderful project that benefits local childen and involves their families and other local residents.
“The children are actively learning valuable, life-long lessons and the positive effects will be felt by the whole community.”
The money donated by Sussex Police came from the Police Property Act Funds which are generated from the disposal of various items of property that come into police possession.
