Pupils at a special education school in Longridge are a step closer to kickstarting a new outdoor inclusivity project thanks to a donation from a local homebuilder.

Tilia Homes Northern has donated £300 to allow Hillside Specialist School and College to prepare its secondary school pupils for adulthood.

A community vegetable garden at the school will see pupils who have autism work together to build and plant patches before being allocated their own area to grow and cultivate.

The donation will also allow the school to purchase materials to build the planters and get the project going.

Emma Pettit, assistant headteacher at Hillside, said: “The donation made by Tilia Homes will make a massive amount of difference to pupils at Hillside.

"It will enable us to buy crucial materials required to build the vegetable patch and get the project off the ground.

“It will be used to buy fencing, a gate, and mesh to keep the patch protected from the lovely wildlife we have living in and around the school, such as deer and rabbits.

“It is essential that our pupils are provided with opportunities to participate in projects such as this one to continue to develop their life skills in a practical and meaningful way that will benefit them when they move on from us.

“Part of this includes providing opportunities to develop key life skills that the pupils can then use when they leave us.

"It can be a challenge to find work or volunteering opportunities in the community that are suitable for some of the complex needs of our students.”

The pupils hope to grow carrots, potatoes, lettuce, and a variety of other vegetables with the intention of selling to parents or using themselves as part of cooking activities.

The project has already sparked interest from people in Longridge, as well as parents and carers, wanting to get involved in the project, making the vegetable patch something for the whole community to enjoy.

Emily Horn, sales and marketing director for Tilia Homes Northern, said: “It’s our pleasure to make this contribution to Hillside Specialist School and College as we understand how important this project will be to pupils learning invaluable skills in food, cooking, and health, as well as integrating and working together as part of a team and wider community.

“With our Alston Grange development only a short distance away, we understand how important it is to support the causes and projects close to the hearts of the communities in which we build and look forward to seeing all the fresh produce grow in the months to come.”