At the end of 2018, Richmond upon Thames College’s (RuTC) Supported Learning and Construction students worked together to build and install planters around the site of the college’s new building. ISG, the construction services company responsible for the college’s redevelopment, collected timber offcuts from the building work which they donated to RuTC’s Construction department. Construction students then decided to build planters out of the wood, arranged around the welfare areas of the site.

Supported Internship and Adult Independent Living Students then took over and were responsible for the actual planting process. Shona Corben, Supported Learning Lecturer at RuTC, said: “Everyone enjoyed working with ISG as they supported and inspired our work. The students’ input was great. They arranged the entire planting process, chose the winter proof plants themselves and will be maintaining the planters.”

Libby Benjamin, RuTC student involved in the planting process, said: “The main thing was team work. It was great how everyone worked together and is part of the team.”

ISG Construction Manager, Pui Wong, said they were all “extremely impressed and grateful for the students’ efforts and will continue to work with the college to ensure that the plants are maintained throughout the duration of the project.”