Neighbours are rolling up their sleeves and joining parents for a do-it-yourself weekend to spruce up a school playground in London’s East End.
They are giving the school garden a total ‘environmentally friendly’ makeover at Spitalfields’ Christ Church Primary in Brick Lane on Saturday and Sunday.
Neighbourhood folk and community groups who use the school facilities are turning up, including members Spitalfields Community Group and the congregation from Spitalfields Church.
They join parents, teachers and pupils for the DIY weekend which is the brainchild of the school’s Early Years reception teacher Nazanin Hajir to bringing the community together.
“We want as many people as possible to join us,” she pleads. “This is a chanced to have some fun outdoors while meeting the community and helping our eco-makeover.”
Even businesses are sending staff volunteers to join in, including the prestigious Allen & Overy law firm whose international headquarters are just 10 minutes from the school.
Volunteers get fed as well, with food donated by the nearby Suzzle café, Hummingbird bakery and a supermarket.
Paint has also been donated while a nearby car-tyre shop is giving used tyres to be made into seats and planters.
Mrs Hajir is also hoping for contributions of plants, outdoor paints, wood and other DIY materials as well as clean plastic containers that can be recycled as planters.
Tasks being undertaken range from making a wall garden from recycled milk bottles to fashioning seats out of old tyres.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here