A GROUP of imaginative pupils at a Port school have been shortlisted for a national award for their potted garden.

Youngsters in the Base 2 Class at Craigmarloch dug deep to create a garden featuring iconic landmarks of Inverclyde.

The group, working with teachers Karen Monk and Ruth Bennett, impressed judges with a presentation of the plan for their garden to Keep Scotland Beautiful and were given the go ahead to create it.

Their teacher Karen said: "They have all worked very hard and had different jobs to do.

"It was a real team effort.

"The tech teachers helped us represent the town's shipbuilders statue, we had kettles to link with James Watt and steam, we have a boat to represent the capsized sugar ship and shipbuilding heritage, fish and sand for the coastline and Argyll Hills and even a waterfall for the Greenock Cut."

Greenock Telegraph:

The garden isn't just decorative though. The children planted lettuce, broad beans, strawberries, chives and mint.

Ms Bennett said they have learned a lot during the project which was tied in with the curriculum and recycling and upcycling skills.

She said: "The class are pupils with quite complex needs and they learned how to grow plants and how to look after them.

"They bought flowers, which helped their money skills."

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The group and Whinhill Primary are the only schools in Inverclyde to make the final for the Keep Scotland Beautiful Award.

Craigmarloch are asking Tele readers to vote for their young people in the competition and the deadline is Monday.

Anyone who wants to support them should visit: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/pocket-garden-showcase/