PUPILS from schools around Sidmouth have been busy transforming empty flower beds at Connaught Gardens into floral works of art. St Nicholas Junior, Sidbury Primary, Sidmouth Infants and St John's School armed teams of children with trowels this week to s

PUPILS from schools around Sidmouth have been busy transforming empty flower beds at Connaught Gardens into floral works of art.St Nicholas Junior, Sidbury Primary, Sidmouth Infants and St John's School armed teams of children with trowels this week to set out pre-drawn designs in bedding plants, with help from StreetScene gardener Darren Cross, who is in charge of Connaught Gardens, Joy Seward, president of Sidmouth in Bloom, and Mark Pollard, parks development officer at East Devon District Council.For the first time this year, a team of mature garden design students from Bicton College have joined the younger students to add an abstract design, using unusual plants such as Purple Majesty millet. "They were all given the same list of plants to choose from and they went for form rather than colour," explained Mr Pollard, who talked to each group about caring for plants, feeding them and planting techniques, before letting them loose in the gardens.Mrs Seward said: "This is the fourth year Sidmouth in Bloom has been running this in conjunction with EDDC."Pupils use their design and maths skills to work out how many plants they will need within their fixed budget to complete their scheme.This year St John's Year Six planted a school badge, Sidbury Primary produced a space scene with rocket and stars, Sidmouth Infants made giant pink and silver flowers with purple leaves and St Nicholas Junior produced a large pink fish.South West in Bloom judging will take place in mid-July.