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Students unveil their secret for success

11/05/05

Students from Brakenhale School have unveiled their secret for success with a new landscaped garden at Dennis Pilcher House which will form part of Bracknell Flowers – Bracknell’s entry into Britain in Bloom.

Nine students from the Rectory Lane school have been working with Bracknell-based logistics company Exel for the past two years on the Secret for Success programme in which they have project managed, designed and landscaped the new garden.

Mentored by staff from Exel and the South East Berkshire Education Business Partnership the students raised more than 2,000 which included a number of donations from local companies to help them with the project to provide the residents of the Broad Lane sheltered housing complex with a new communal garden.

The new garden now includes a water feature, benches and landscaping which all the residents can enjoy year round.

The students hard work will be highlighted to Royal Horticultural Society judges who will be judging the prestigious Britain in Bloom contest in July.

The Secret for Success programme teaches students new skills which can be used in and out of school to help them achieve their goals in life. These skills include:

  • Project management
  • Presentation
  • Surveying and questionnaires
  • Garden design
  • Costing and budgeting
  • Fundraising
  • Teamwork
  • Time keeping

    The students started the project in 2003 and last Tuesday (May 3) officially opened the new garden with Mayor of the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Cllr Alan Browne.

    Steve McKenna, Borough Landscape Manager helped mentor the young people in the implementation of the regenerated garden. He said: “The students have worked extremely hard throughout this project and have produced some wonderful results. The garden at Dennis Pilcher House looks great and I am sure that the residents will enjoy years of pleasure from it.”

    Maria McLean from Exel Mentoring Group added: “All of the students involved in Secret for Success programme have committed a lot of time and energy into this project and the fantastic results shows just how successful they have been.

    “Not only have they managed to create a wonderful garden for the residents of Dennis Pilcher house, they have learned some invaluable skills which will serve them well in aspects of their lives.”