A GARDEN charity helped sow seeds of happiness at a Dorchester school with a donation of funds to replace a vandalised polytunnel.

The polytunnel at St Mary’s Catholic First School in Lucetta Lane was damaged last year when vandals slashed the plastic.

The school’s gardening activities have been able to continue but they are set for an added boost next spring thanks to a donation from the Dorset Gardens Trust.

Rosemary Agg from the Trust handed over £277 for a replacement polytunnel.

Teacher Gail Tucker, who runs the school’s gardening club, said the funds would enable the new structure to be in place by next spring.

The school’s garden is also used in science classes and Mrs Tucker said that, while the damage to the polytunnel has not put a stop to the green-fingered activity, the school will be glad to see its replacement in place for next year.

She said: “It hasn’t stopped us growing things but it will be much nicer to have it back.”

Mrs Tucker added: “The Dorset Gardens Trust originally gave us money towards buying the polytunnel in the first place before it got vandalised. It was very good of them to consider it again, hopefully this time we won’t have a repeat performance.”

Mrs Tucker said that new security measures had now been put in place around the garden but it was still considered best not to put the new polytunnel up just before the summer holidays when the site would not be used for several weeks.

Instead work will be carried out during the autumn and winter to make sure the new structure is ready for action in the spring.