Dobbies' Cirencester store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner.

Winning school, Down Ampney C of E Primary School, is full of eager gardening pupils, hoping to grow their interest in the outdoor environment and learn more about the importance of biodiversity. The school also hopes to create a grow house to increase its produce from seeds.

Dobbies will provide the school with tools, plants and seeds to help the children be more hands-on with their gardening journey, alongside support from its horticultural experts to help bring their project to life.

Dobbies' own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.

Angela Beck, general manager at Dobbies' Cirencester store, said: "We are delighted to be supporting Down Ampney C of E Primary School this year and look forward to seeing the children's gardening project come to life with our support.

"We've been truly overwhelmed with the response to our campaign in Cirencester! The team and I would like to thank all the worthy causes that got involved in the application process and our customers who helped us crown our Helping Your Community Grow winner by voting."

Rebecca Gray, headteacher of Down Ampney C of E Primary School, said: "We are thrilled to have been crowned the local Helping Your Community Grow winner for Cirencester and would like to thank those members of the public who voted for us.

"We're eager to get stuck into growing our own produce, and with Dobbies' support, the kids will be able to learn more about the different types of crops and how to nurture them as they grow."

Image credit: Stewart Attwood