Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School in Congleton is nurturing a lifelong passion for nature among its pupils, thanks to funding from a local homebuilder. The school was one of 18 community projects to receive support through the Mission Green scheme by Castle Green Homes, which has distributed over £9,000 to local good causes.
New Equipment for After-School Garden Club
Teachers at Saint Mary's used their funding share to purchase brand new equipment for the popular after-school garden club, replacing old tools that had been heavily used for five years. The new items include spades, hand forks, trowels, garden gloves, and carrier baskets. Younger pupils now have safe tools for their dedicated growing area, while year six children will use them to design a park garden for Congleton in Bloom. School leaders also hope the equipment will be used by forest school groups and other classes.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits
Spending time outdoors helps lower stress and supports positive mental health for children of all ages. Pupils run past the school garden and orchard every day as part of their daily mile routine. Foundation governor Patti Pinto said: "Many of the hand tools were in need of replacing as they were over five years old and well used. We applied to Mission Green funding for safe, sturdy tools for use by the garden club, the youngest children who have their own space to grow and year six who create a small garden in the park as part of the garden festival run by Congleton in Bloom."
Broader Community Support
Castle Green Homes has also backed other local initiatives, including donating £1,000 to Congleton Santa and sponsoring the 2026 Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival. The developer explained that the funding scheme aims to help the local environment and community thrive alongside new housing developments. These donations are provided on top of agreed local funding payments made during the planning process.
Planting a Lifelong Love for Gardening
Sian Pitt, sales director at Castle Green Homes, added: "The idea behind Mission Green is to ensure that as the neighbourhood grows, its residents and natural environment continue to thrive. As a homebuilder we understand the importance of having the right tools for the job. We were pleased to be able to equip Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School with hand trowels, hand forks, garden trugs, spades and gardening gloves. We hope the donation helps plant the seed for a life-long love for gardening."
