PUPILS are to help create a sensory garden at a Shildon school after it secured £2,500 from a church-run community project to help cover the costs.

The Shildon Alive scheme, run by St John’s Church, in Shildon, has provided funding for Sunnydale Community College.

The idea for the garden came from the pupils at the college, on Middridge Lane, after they requested a quiet area in which to study and relax.

Teacher Yvonne Scott said: “We asked the pupils what they thought would improve the college.

“A lot of ball games take place during play time and the pupils wanted a quiet area and the students were very keen to put forward suggestions.

“The pupils will help to create the garden and the scheme will tie in with the school’s gardening and healthy eating groups.”

Pupils Lauren Fletcher and Chloe Bailey worked hard to acquire funding for the project. Extra money for the scheme will also come for the school and other sources.

Chloe said: “The sensory garden will give the students somewhere to relax.”

The Shildon Alive project has also created a food bank in the town centre and it will grow vegetables for the venture in allotments in Shildon.

Reverend David Tomlinson, vicar at St John’s, said: “The sensory garden at Sunnydale very much fits in with the aims of our project. It will create a good space for the pupils.

”We are always proud to develop partnerships which help the community flourish and we are delighted to support the school.”