THE gardening club for youngsters at Sun Hill Infant School in Alresford has been given a major boost with a brand new glasshouse.

Donated by Griffin Glasshouses, of Ropley, it will be used to teach basic gardening skills to six and seven-year-olds including projects such as growing flowers from seeds and making cuttings from established plants.

Head teacher Kim Owen Jones said: “We are grateful to Griffin Glasshouses. When we first proposed the idea of having a greenhouse to enable children to grow more from seed throughout the year we could never have envisaged such a beautiful one ever being an option.

“The glasshouse will benefit those children particularly who either have a very small outdoor space or no garden at all. With the new greenhouse, all of the questions about where do our fruit and vegetables come from can be illustrated on a small scale. The small group of children who do gardening with their family have in my experience shown amazing knowledge.”

Measuring 2.1m x 2.8m the glasshouse comes complete with a fixed gable bench, two folding side benches and an internal water storage tank with hand pump.

Linda Lane, managing director of the family-owned business, said: “I personally have a long-standing history with the school. It has been our pleasure to donate the glasshouse, it will add a whole new dimension to the club and how the children learn about growing.”