Supporting the local school
Another lovely gesture by Otter Garden Centres in Ottery St Mary, with the donation of a ‘potting shed’ to local school, Ottery Primary.
The idea grew from discussions held during Otter’s 60 Good Deeds campaign, celebrating the company’s 60th anniversary in 2024. Otter first helped the school by replacing the wood on raised beds, providing a new pond liner, and installing a roof for the forest school firepit area, making outdoor learning possible all year round.
Otter MD Jacqui Taylor, a former pupil of the school, then offered something rather special – a dedicated indoor space – a rather grand potting shed. It’s a high-quality Malvern building, with large windows to let in plenty of light and double doors leading to a veranda. It’s also heated, meaning children can sow seeds and pot up vegetables on cold days, and have a chance to warm up between gardening sessions.
Jacqui is genuinely passionate about helping young people to enjoy activities that involve planting, growing and getting muddy!
I went along to take some PR photos of the ‘handover’ and chat to Assistant Headteacher Dan Western about what the donation meant to the school. “We’re so grateful to Otter Garden Centres and Jacqui for their generous support. The potting shed and the other improvements will help us weave nature, planting and growing into the curriculum, giving our young students a real appreciation of the world around them.”
The photography session reminded me (once again) of the old adage, never work with animals or children, as one young lad was looking everywhere except at the camera. Classic.
Ottery pupils dig into learning thanks to generous gift from garden centre | Devon Live
Well done to Jacqui and the team for your continuing generosity to the local community.
New entrance
I also created some PR around the new entrance and layout to the Ottery Garden Centre, which now has a much more appealing and logical layout for customers.
Otter Garden Centres, Ottery St Mary, new building opened | Sidmouth Herald
Fresh look and feel inside legendary Devon garden centre | Devon Live
Cutting the ribbon for a new look in Otter shopping | The Exeter Daily
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