Primary School students enjoy new gardening adventures thanks to Otter Garden Centres

Students at Ottery Primary School are set to enjoy more hands-on gardening activities thanks to the donation of a beautiful new potting shed from Otter Garden Centres.

The idea grew from discussions held during Otter’s 60 Good Deeds campaign, celebrating the company’s 60th anniversary in 2024. Otter first helped the school by replacing the wood on raised beds, providing a new pond liner, and installing a roof for the forest school firepit area, making outdoor learning possible all year round.

Working with Assistant Headteacher Dan Western, Otter Managing Director Jacqui Taylor, a former pupil of the school, was keen to revive the school’s gardening club. Students soon got stuck in, planting up the rejuvenated raised beds and even growing pumpkins in old tyres.

Dan explained: “While our students enjoy forest school sessions, gardening gives a more structured opportunity to learn about horticulture; food, how it’s grown, and ways to support wildlife.”

Jacqui then looked for further ways to support the garden and realised what was really needed: a dedicated indoor space - a rather grand potting shed. With the school’s blessing, the existing shed was relocated to the forest school, and the site’s historic Anderson shelter was repaired and repurposed for tool storage. New fencing went up, and finally, the new shed was installed.

The structure, a high-quality Malvern building, features large windows to let in plenty of light and double doors leading to a veranda. Helpfully set on an aluminium base rather than concrete, as vehicle access to the garden is limited, it was installed over three days by Otter’s expert Garden Buildings team.

Now, it provides the perfect space for children to sow seeds, pot up vegetables and, on cold days, warm up between gardening sessions.

Dan says class teachers will decide how best to use the shed: “We want it to develop as a multi-use space for all ages. Early years may enjoy having a wormery or anything bug-related, while older pupils could use wildlife cameras to watch nature in action.

“Each year group also has its own raised bed, and we’re running a friendly competition through the year. Classes can choose themes for their planting – perhaps linked to topics like World War Two in Key Stage 2, or around colours and design.”

For Jacqui, the donation carries special significance. “Ottery Primary was a wonderful place to learn,” she said. “My first commercial venture as a child was to grow radishes, pull and bunch them, and sell them to the Head Teacher, Miss McSkimming. She told me they were the best she’d ever tasted, and I was hooked on growing!”

From those early entrepreneurial roots, Jacqui went on to lead the family business, which now has eight garden centres across the region. “School isn’t just about subjects like Maths and English,” she added. “It’s also about learning the life skills that help you make the most of every opportunity.”

The new potting shed was handed over just before half term, and students are already eager to make full use of it throughout the gardening seasons.

Dan said: “We’re so grateful to Otter Garden Centres and Jacqui for their generous support. The potting shed and the other improvements will help us weave nature, planting and growing into the curriculum, giving our young students a real appreciation of the world around them.”