IT is all hands on deck for Ramsey Academy's gardening club preparing for a busy growing season.

With a stack of jobs on the to-do list, Oliver Smith, Noah Parkinson, Joshua Lingley and William Cheffins have been cleaning and redesigning the interior of the green-house.

While Harry Porcher and Jamie Jones have been involved in the preparation of a poly-tunnel, which included sorting and washing over 700 plant pots, trays and baskets.

Recent warm weather has allowed the group to weed their allotment area, and coming weeks will see the raised beds refreshed with compost ready for a crop of carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, other household fruit and veg as well as companion plants.

Harry said: "In the last fortnight our team has dug out the footings for our new £300 composting station. Although this is not finished yet, it will be completed in the next week when the wood arrives. We will then have a 10 cubic metre composting facility and will process the grass cuttings and leaves from the school grounds. This will save the school money by not having to pay for their disposal off site.

"We have taken delivery of nearly 3,000 litres of peat-free compost to use this year. We have seed, potting and hanging basket/planter composts. We will be growing all manner of crops. £50 worth of seed are on the way to us from Thompson and Morgan. Our aim is to fill 20 hanging baskets and sell them to fund our activities.

"Our plans for the year will be to use the new compost area and maintain a bright, healthy and pleasant growing area for the school and encourage new members to participate in the gardening club."

The Gardening Team will have a stall at the town's May Day celebrations.