Everything is looking rosy at a Barrhead school...thanks to their weekly gardening group.

Organised by acting principal teacher Katrina Flaherty, the club offers children at St John’s Primary the chance to learn gardening skills and how to put them into practise.

The group of pupils from the primary four, five, six and seven classes, supported by Miss Flaherty, grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Miss Flaherty said: “We are just getting started again after the cold winter period and looking ahead to the spring and summer months.

“This year, we have decided to grow some potatoes, as well as creating a bigger flower patch to go along with the recurring tulips and daffodils.”

Last year, St John’s Primary was awarded level 1 and 2 certificates from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

As well as the ongoing work to maintain the school’s garden, there are plans in place for the expansion of the existing allotment.

On Saturday, March 3, the school pupils will showcase their ideas for a mud kitchen, craft area and an outdoor learning space to be added to the site.

This will be part of a community funding event organised by Barrhead Housing Association and staff at The Foundry.

Achieving this development would allow the school to be recognised with a further level 3 award from the RHS, which requires an integrated learning aspect in the allotment.

There are also hopes that various groups in Barrhead will get involved with the work on the school’s allotment, leading to it becoming a focal point for the wider community.

Miss Flaherty added: “The ideas that we have for expanding the allotment here would provide a great space for environmental learning and play.

“At the moment, it is mostly the older children who use the allotment but we want to see this benefitting the infants as well.

“We are hoping to see as many families and locals as possible there at The Foundry on March 3 to support us and vote for us.

“Our idea to restore and rejuvenate the existing allotment space would be for the use of both the school and the wider community, meaning that it could be maintained in the summer, when we are closed, creating a year-round project.

“All going well with the grant funding, we will be able to carry out this plan within the year, giving us lots of space for outdoor learning and allowing us to create paths connecting different parts of the allotment and our small orchard.”