A primary school have turned wasteland into a “secret garden” through the hard work of teachers, parents and neighbours.

St Martin of Porres Primary School, on the Enfield and Haringey border in Bounds Green, had the garden opened last Thursday (July 14) by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Catherine West.

It includes a pond and an outdoor classroom, and head teacher Irene Tyrell said she hopes it will be used by children from schools across north London, not just St Martin.

Ms Tyrell, who is retiring this summer after 30 years as head, said she was glad she could pass on the garden before she leaves the school.

She said: “We have had this plot for a long time, it was a wildlife garden but it had fallen into disrepair.

“Outside learning is amazingly important for primary school children, and now they can use this place which is wonderful.

“I am extremely proud of everyone who worked on it, I suppose it is my leaving gift for this wonderful school.”

Pam Grace, a teaching assistant at the school for eight years, came up with the idea after running the lunchtime gardening club at the school and wanting to give the neglected area a purpose.

She said: “It is an amazing space, I think it has something really special, really calming. I hope it is not just used for lessons, but for somewhere special for the children.

“About a year or so ago we started thinking about how we could do it, by March we started getting people involved.”

Work only started on May 4, with Ms Grace describing it as “quite a turnaround”.

Parents and staff helped to clear the area, with The Sunshine Garden Centre, also from Bounds Green, supporting the project by providing plants and wood chip for the paths.  

The school have also been given a Level Five award - the highest level - by the Royal Horticultural Society in recognition of their gardening achievements.