A POPULAR County Durham children’s author and illustrator was guest of honour at the official opening of a school’s ‘magical garden’ this week. Liz Million, who for a number of years has enthralled children at Horndale Infant School with her creative workshops and story-telling, has been invited to open ‘Horndale’s Magical Garden’ on Friday (7 April). The development has been made possible after the Newton Aycliffe school received a grant of £10,000 from Awards for All to enhance their outdoor environment which included the nursery garden and main playground. It includes: • A reading area added to nursery garden with tiered seating, a stage and a story chair • Gruffalo and mouse Willow sculpture (which year 1 and 2 helped to make) • Plants and rockery • A wooden playhouse, picnic tables with games, wooden carved benches and planters in the main playground Lauren Wright, English coordinator and a member of Friend’s of Horndale said, “When the initial idea of a ‘grand opening’ for Horndale’s Magical Garden came about myself and Mr Brown immediately thought that Liz Million should have some involvement in the day.
We welcome Liz back into school year after year to work with the children as part of an annual English week, we are very lucky to have such an enthusiastic, passionate and creative professional to offer her skills to our children. Children throughout the school are very excited about the garden and the opportunities it has to offer, they have enjoyed being involved in the development. Both children and staff alike have worked hard in the run up to the opening of the garden and we are equally excited to share it with parents and carers”. Liz, who lives in Darlington, added: “I am so flattered and thrilled to be officially opening Horndale’s Magical Garden! There is no better way to generate ideas for stories and a love of books than spending quiet time in beautiful garden. The children have such great imaginations and a zest for knowledge here at Horndale and it will be interesting to see what story ideas they come up with! They could maybe act out their characters on the stage!
The infants are so fortunate to have a wonderful team of grown ups who actively seek out new ways of trying to enhance the pupils lives and this is definitely one of my favourite ideas so far! I can’t believe that I’m going to the first person to read one of my own stories in the special chair” The ‘Friends of Horndale’ Committee – a partnership between parents, governors and staff – were also instrumental in the opening of the garden. Set up last year, their vision is to develop and enhance the provision and opportunities offered to our pupils through a number of fundraising activities. Gemma Stevenson, Chair of Friends of Horndale, explained “I was very excited about the prospect of reinventing the Friends of Horndale committee in October of last year. Since this time, we have organised a number of events involving parents and carers, children, Governors and staff. Children really enjoy these events and they have proved very popular throughout the school.
A particular favourite has been our termly film nights where children pay a set price for a ticket which includes a film, snack and drink after school. The Committee are currently developing various ways in which the school and local community can benefit and enjoy Horndale’s Magical Garden”. The garden will also be open for parents and governors with a number of activities set up in the playground including seed planting, wand making and bird feeder making.
