A Bath secondary school is bridging the generation gap by opening a community garden to offer a peaceful haven for its elderly neighbours.
St Mark's School, in Larkhall, has joined forces with singing charity the Golden Oldies to encourage pensioners to spend more time with youngsters.
It is part of the Time after Time project, which was launched in Bath three years ago as a way of linking up people of all ages so they could build relationships and spend quality time together.
Raymond Friel, executive head teacher of both St Mark's and St Gregory's Catholic College, said: "I think it helps the children understand and respect the elderly community better.
"When you see it in action, it is fantastic. We have had children painting portraits of the elderly people, using their memories to put on drama productions, singing and performing with them.
"That generation gap is widening, many young people don't see their grandparents that regularly, and there is a real danger of our society becoming fragmented."
The new community garden has a separate gate, which elderly people can use to access the site at certain times and enjoy the surroundings.
It is next to the school's allotments, where residents and pupils grow fruit and vegetables.
The hope is that the elderly visitors can pass on some of their gardening knowledge to the youngsters and, if they feel able, get involved with some of the work.
Goldies founder Grenville Jones said his aim was to see Time after Time spread throughout Bath and then more widely across the rest of the country.
He said: "I hope we are planting a seed today that will grow."
The garden was made possible thanks to support and sponsorship from the Charter Trustees of the City, ward Councillors Dave Laming (Ind, Lambridge) and Bryan Chalker (Ind, Lambridge), Bath in Bloom and others.
Simon Kale, managing director of Nicholas Pearson Associates, designed the site and it was built by Oldfield Park-based builder Bill Baines.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
