Back to its best

Spurred on by the vandalism, a team of parents led by Nicola Reynolds set about returning the garden to former glories.

Principal at Drumnamoe, Fiona McDonald commented: “The support has been unbelievable since people read the article in the ‘MAIL’. I have received text messages from as far away as England saying how disgusted people are by what has happened.

“However, after two weeks I am delighted to say that my faith in human nature has been fully restored.

“The garden has not only returned to its former glory but looks ten times better.”

Mrs McDonald expressed her overwhelming gratitude to all of those parents who offered their words of encouragement and support following the recent spate of vandalism to their school garden.

“I especially want to thank our newly appointed parent co-ordinator Nicola Reynolds who orchestrated a massive clean-up operation among the parents,” she added.

Nicola, whose four-year-old daughter Aoife attends the nursery school, said it was great to see the garden looking so well.

“The work on the garden had already begun before the vandalism, but it spurred us on to do that bit more.”

She added: “The vandalism is a real downside. All the garden ornaments have to be put away every Friday and put back out on Monday.”

Mrs McDonald added: “The kids are out in the garden most of the day - a lot of the nursery curriculum is done outside. They absolutely love the garden. It’s been built up over eight years and I would say we’re finally there.”

The judge from the ‘Best Kept School’ competition visited Drumnamoe last Thursday and Mrs McDonald said he was “extremely impressed” with the school and its garden.

“If we do not win ‘Best Kept School’ this year I will be bitterly disappointed,” she said. “Fingers crossed we will be getting some good news sometime in the near future.”