CHILDREN and teachers at a Winchester school have been celebrating their hard work to transform their memorial garden.

Stanmore School’s ‘green team’ have been labouring for weeks to design and develop the school quad’s memorial garden. The landscaping has included spring flowers and herbs being planted in a slate and wooden butterfly-shaped pebbled area.

Some of the larger pebbles were hand-painted by pupils and staff.

Headteacher, Justine Brooks, said: “We wanted to create a special garden where we can remember those who were close to us. I hope that our memorial garden will become somewhere for us to pause and quietly reflect.”

Steve Brine MP opened the garden at an informal ceremony on Friday (April 4) as the whole school, parents and family members of past pupils and staff looked on.

Mr Brine said he was pleased to have been asked to open such a significant garden telling the children they rarely forgot the first friends they made at school.

As the school sang Sing! children laid pebbles and plaques bearing the names of pupils and staff who have passed away.

Paul Letford, from Level 10 Church in Stanmore, led the school in prayers and blessed the garden.

Mrs Brooks added: “A special thank you to the family and friends of Eleanor King who gave us our garden, to all those who donated plants and our staff and Green Team who have created such a unique place within our school grounds.”