A Paisley school is set to create a new garden following its success in an environmental competition run by homeware giant IKEA.

Lochfield Primary has been selected as one of the winners of this year's Let's Go Zero competition, which encourages schools to submit ideas for new sustainability projects.

Keen to create an outdoor space for hands-on learning and projects, pupils put forward a proposal to transform part of the school grounds into a community garden with an allotment and composting area.

Students will take on seasonal responsibilities, grow produce, and enjoy outdoor lessons whilst learning about sustainability, insects, wildlife, and plants.

The Gazette:

The project will also involve community outreach, offering flowers and produce to retirement homes and food banks, with plans to host an outdoor monthly tearoom in the summer months for elderly people in the local area.

Lochfield Primary will receive help from IKEA staff to bring their idea to life, providing products up to the value of £2,000, as well as solutions and sustainable living expertise.

The initiative is in partnership with IKEA and the Let's Go Zero campaign, which is coordinated by climate solutions charity, Ashden - and including a coalition of environmental NGOs - and calls on all UK schools to become zero carbon by 2030.

It is the second year IKEA has run the competition in partnership with Let’s Go Zero. 

The Gazette:

This year, Lochfield Primary have won along with three other schools and sixth-form colleges based in Lancashire, Huddersfield and London.

Marsha Smith, deputy country retail manager at IKEA UK and Ireland, said: "This year's competition has been a great success. It's fantastic to see so many young people engaging with this initiative and learning more about simple but effective ways we can all help the environment.

"The entries we received demonstrate that children and young people across the UK are very aware of the importance of sustainability, recycling, upcycling and reducing waste.

"What's great about this initiative is that it inspires hands-on, outdoor learning and resourcefulness whilst also supporting families and enriching local communities. That's something we're passionate about at IKEA and we look forward to supporting the schools as part of this process."