PUPILS at a village school are spreading some cheer in their community.

Blackrod Church Primary School children are sending message of love and hope to elderly residents who may be self-isolating to show they have not been forgotten during this pandemic.

This week, they teamed up with Holden Clough Nurseries to send plants to them with beautiful handwritten message on them to help them get through this difficult time.

The Bolton News:

Executive headteacher James Royal said: "We realise that times are very difficult for us all at the moment and particularly for our more elderly neighbours who may feel isolated. We wanted them to feel loved and not forgotten.

"During the period of lockdown we have regularly made art gifts and sent letters to 70 to 100 of our more elderly friends in Blackrod living near to school, including making doorstep deliveries to care homes too.

"We have made Rainbow pictures, salt dough hearts and dream catchers. We are really grateful to John and Kate Foley at Holden Clough Nurseries, Bolton by Bowland, who very generously donated the plants, pots and compost free of charge when we told them what we wanted to do."

Taking part in community activities such as this is also said to have a positive impact on pupils' health and wellbeing.

The Bolton News:

Mr Royal explained:"Part of this work is to help our children makes sense of what’s happening around them and give them purpose, focus and value.

"Our priority is to concentrate on recovery and ensuring all our children, whether they’ve been in school or not, remain as precious to us and the at forefront of everything we do as they always have been.

"We know that many children and families will have experienced loss or sadness ­— even if that’s missing friends, routines or structures, or tragically much worse.

"Being there for each other and getting through this time together is our best route to finding a normality in life as we come out of lockdown.

"We have been open throughout the holidays and available on bank holidays to support our vulnerable children and those children of key workers, and supply weekly activities to support learning at home. "We’ve also provided photo links and ensured our teachers are in close contact with all our families. "