Pupils at Vyners School are using their spare time to help create a memorial garden for a much loved teacher.

The garden will be in memory of Seamus Foley who taught biology at the school in Warren Road, Ickenham, for over 30 years before he died in February last year aged 53. He had battled pancreatic cancer.

The Seamus Foley Memorial Garden is being constructed by a core committee of a dozen Year 12 students who are being helped by ex-pupils, Year 11 and 13 pupils and staff in order to create the lasting tribute.

Joanna Peplinska, 42, a science teacher at the school who is leading the project, said of the pupils: "They've been absolutely amazing. They have achieved far more than I thought was possible. They're fantastic role models for other pupils."

When completed, the garden will have an outdoor theatre to seat 400 people, a quiet space with benches that can be used for teaching on dry days, a pond and a gardening area where pupils will be able to grow fruit and plants.

They plan to have a stone memorial for Mr Foley surrounded by white, orange and green foliage and a rugby ball on a plinth to reflect his love of rugby and his time as a coach.

The garden is scheduled to be completed next July, so the hard working pupils will be able to use it before they leave the school.

"They're putting in so much effort so I would love them to be able to use the garden before they leave," said Mrs Peplinska.

The pupils have been working on the garden after school and will continue to do so at least one day a week during the summer holiday.

Mrs Peplinska said the pupils' hard work: 'shows you how much respect they have for him'.

Vyners have raised £3,800 for the garden, but if anyone is able to offer extra assistance, please contact ecogarden@vyners.hillingdon.sch.uk