LAUDER Primary’s Gardening Club has scooped a top award from Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The youngsters enjoyed success recently, becoming the first school in the Borders to reach level 5 of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening awards.

But now they have gone one better, picking up the level 5 ‘Outstanding’ certificate from the Keep Scotland Beautiful It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme for their efforts.

Charlotte Aitchison, who is a parent volunteer, said: “We have worked really hard over the last four years to reach level 5 of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening awards so it’s really fantastic to also be awarded an Outstanding certificate from It’s your Neighbourhood.

“The club is run by parent volunteers with support from the school. The club grows its own fruit and vegetables using organic, sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.

“Primary 4 pupils join the Gardening Club in the spring term and stay for a full calendar year, so they get to sow, grow, harvest, sell, cook and eat their own produce.

“The club also likes to share its gardening skills and knowledge with the local community. Our community project this year involved working with local assisted housing residents to create a wildlife garden in their grounds for them and their visitors to enjoy.

“The children really look forward to joining Gardening Club when they are in Primary 4, it has grown into a fantastic resource for the school over the last four years.”