At Durham’ s Botanical Gardens earlier today, the winners were announced for ‘Grow with Esh’ the exciting new project which has been running throughout the summer months in 20 of the region’s schools.

Launched in April by north east construction company Esh Group’s charity; Esh Charitable Trust, the scheme is aimed at helping school children develop gardening and horticultural projects in or near their schools.

£20,000 was shared by 20 schools from as far afield as Ashington, Corbridge and Stockton.  The grants were ‘seed-funding’ for projects selected and approved by the Charity.

• First prize of £3,000 was awarded to Wensleydale Middle School, Blyth, Northumberland.
• Second prize of £1,500 went to Margaret Sutton School, South Shields, Tyne & Wear.
• Third prize of £500 was shared between Consett Community Sports College, Co Durham and St Benedict's RC             Voluntary Aided Middle School, Ashington.

Four runners up were each awared £100, Garden Centre Vouchers;
• Guide Post Middle School, Choppington
• Corbridge Middle School, Northumberland
• St Bedes RC School, South Shields
• Tudhoe Grange Technology College, Spennymoor

The top prize of £3,000 went to overall winner Wensleydale Middle School, Blyth for their Courtyard Development scheme.  Mr Bill Sones founder of Sones Landscaping was one of the judges of the project and was overwhelmed with the achievements from all of the schools;
“ ‘Grow With Esh’ is a fantastic scheme.  It has been a catalyst not only for some wonderful gardens –  there have been a raft of spin offs; vegetable growing, setting up of small businesses, innovative and creative work throughout school departments such as maths and art and of course, lots of work with communities.”

In second place was Margaret Sutton School, South Shields where pupils planted and sold hanging baskets and made over £1,000 profit for their school.  They received a cheque for £1,500.

Joint third winners are Consett Community Sports College, Consett and St. Benedicts R.C. Middle School, Ashington who both received £250 cash prize.

Commenting on the scheme and the overall work of the Esh Charitable Trust, Chairman Austin Donohoe said;
“Grow with Esh is a perfect example of our objectives through the Trust; to work with young people, vulnerable people, communities, the environment and to develop skills and healthy living.  Through “Grow With” we have reached hundreds of young people, we are confident that the benefits will continue well into the future.”

During the competition over the summer months, progress has been reported to the Charity by means of photographs, school children’s diaries and Trustees visits.   Advice was available from experts at award winning horticulture and landscaping business, Sones Landscaping.  Part of Esh Group, Sones Landscaping has won many ‘Britain in Bloom’ awards and looks after a variety of contracts involving grounds and gardens throughout the North East at universities, schools and colleges, at retail parks such as the Metro Centre and Dalton Park, many of the regions’ Business Parks and at Wear Valley and Derwentside District Councils.

Schools which participated included;
County Durham 
Consett Community Sports College Consett
Durham Community Business College Ushaw Moor
Easington Community School Peterlee
Fyndoune Community College Sacriston
Moorside Community Technology College Consett
St Bedes RC Comprehensive Lanchester
The Meadows School Spennymoor
Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive Spennymoor
Woodham Community Technology College Newton Aycliffe
 
Northumberland 
Corbridge Middle School  Corbridge
Guide Post Middle School  Choppington
St Benedict's RC Voluntary Aided Middle School  Ashington
Wensleydale Middle School  Blyth
 
Teesside 
Ian Ramsey Church of England Voluntary Aided School Stockton-on-Tees
St Michael's RC Comprehensive School Billingham
 
Tyne & Wear 
Margaret Sutton School South Shields
Ryton Comprehensive School Gateshead
Sandhill View School Sunderland
Seaton Burn Community College Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker Technology College Newcastle upon Tyne

Esh Group has long since been synonymous with innovative projects to support young people.  ‘Fit for Employment’ is an exemplar work related learning programme for young people widely acclaimed by the business community, educationalists, Government Ministers and students alike.  The scheme has run since 2004 and embraces a number of County Durham schools and guarantees the offer of 20 full-time permanent jobs with apprenticeships each year.