Horticulture students have been growing their own trees and plants from seeds and cuttings, which are now for sale in the Garden Centre Shop.
Students have cultivated horse chestnut trees, which were grown from conkers collected on Derwen College campus. Conkers were chilled in the fridge to help them to germinate (cold stratification) before being grown into small trees.
Other plants grown from seed are gooseberries, redcurrants, carrots, tomatoes and lupins.
Students Harry, Max and Scott were among those who learnt skills such as germination and taking cuttings, and can now see the fruits of their labours for sale to customers.
Learning Support Assistant Ryan Arrowsmith said: “Students collected lupin seeds from the Walled Garden, and conkers from near The Orangery Restaurant last year, and have now been able to watch them grow from scratch.
“If anyone’s looking for fruit or veg, or has a garden or woodland big enough for horse chestnut trees, then visit Derwen Garden Centre today to pick up a bargain. Plants are priced from 99p, with horse chestnut trees at just £1.99.”
Derwen College Garden Centre is open Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm and Sundays (and bank holidays) 10am-4pm. The Garden Centre provides meaningful work experience for students with special educational needs and disabilities on the College’s Horticulture pathway.