IT MAY look like a building site, but behind the construction debris new life is growing.

Wood Farm Primary School, in Headington, Oxford, is having a multi-million pound rebuild.

So staff decided to use materials from the project to create vegetable beds and enter this year’s Oxford Mail-backed Oxford in Bloom competition.

Teaching assistant Steven Tuohy used timber offcuts to create five new raised beds alongside one of the classrooms.

He said: “It is very much an informal discovery thing for the children, but the head suggested we should put in for Oxford in Bloom and aim high.”

The project at the school, in Titup Hall Drive, only began at the start of the summer term, but already potatoes, salad leaves and tomatoes are growing.

As the school cannot employ someone to maintain the area during holidays, the focus has been on plants which will fruit during term-time.

Mr Tuohy said: “The garden gives the children a sense of where their food comes from and a sense of how plants grow.

“A lot of the children see it as a play area or don’t understand why one would want to do it, but we have a few that are very enthusiastic about it.”

Produce will be sold at the annual Wood Farm Festival at the end of term, with cooked dishes and fresh vegetables available.

Headteacher David Lewin said: “I think Oxford in Bloom is great and what I particularly think is good is it tries to involve all the community, including children and schools, in something citywide.

“It’s early days, but the children are so motivated They’re really enjoying learning about growing food and working on their gardens, and also being part of the competition.”

There are only a few more days for schools and community groups to enter this year’s silver jubilee Oxford in Bloom, with the deadline on Saturday. Other categories are open until Sunday, July 10.

Oxford Mail deputy editor Sara Taylor said: “It’s lovely to see schools finding time to create something new and exciting in their gardens.”