CHILDREN have been given a helping hand to transform wasteland into a wildlife garden.

Staff from Bicester Avenue Garden Centre have been digging and planting to brighten the garden at Rainbow Bicester, in Hendon Place.

The pre-school moved into its new building earlier this year – two years after it faced closure when its 30-year-old portable building was condemned by Oxfordshire County Council.

When the children moved across, their garden area was scrubland, but now the transformation of the site is complete.

Jeanette Cocklin, events manager at the garden centre, said: “We are delighted to have helped the pre-school achieve its vision of creating a sensory and wildlife garden, raised beds and a quiet area by donating time and resources.

“We provided a variety of plants and other garden items for free. The new garden has not only created a nice outdoor area, it will also allow the children to learn all about plants, insects and animals.”

Other local firms – Gem Tool Hire and Travis Perkins – also helped.

Rainbow Bicester manager Wendy Jones said: “Earlier this year we moved into a purpose-built eco-building, which has allowed us to increase the number of children we can care for.

“The new site, which is part of Glory Farm Primary School, had a large area of wasteland, which we thought would be ideal as a garden.

“It was a big project, so we are extremely grateful to the staff at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre for donating plants and other garden items and for giving up their time and resources to help us.”

The pre-school also provides before and after-school holiday clubs.