A NEW composting and water wastage system has been built at Poole Grammar School which is hoped to provide fruit crops for future years.

The fruit cage project is the latest green initiative at the campus and was designed and implemented by students at the school.

Poole Borough Council awarded the £1,825 to fund the project, which was led by Poole Grammar School’s Food For Life Committee.

Project manager Adam Hinks, Year 12, said the initiative was student led from the outside.

“We decided to build a fruit cage within the school grounds, which would be supplied with compost collected from our kitchen waste that was mainly being disposed to landfill.”

The team bought a 625 litre Compost Tumbler that decomposes organic waste within three weeks, and Adam designed an irrigation and water collection system, which reduces the need for watering as well as minimising water wastage.

Funding for the project came from a pot of money the Borough of Poole had set aside to “support the aims of the local authority to reduce waste and improve the environment for Poole residents”.

The project was supported by a number of local groups and organisations, including Dorset Soils and Aggregates, Crispin Creatives and The Oaks Garden Centre.

Adam said: “Students have been engaged and participated in the application and design process as well as the implementation stage, with a number helping to move soil and plant the fruit bushes.

“Our grounds team have also been heavily involved, helping to erect the frame and some of the raised beds.

“The project has been really beneficial to the school, it has proved to be a source of interest for many students who now wish to become more involved in our green initiatives and hopefully have a greater awareness of recycling and reducing wastage, an additional benefit of the project.”

The students also hope to see a good crop of fruits each year which can be used by the canteen and food technology department.