Thurston CE Primary Academy, near Bury St Edmunds, creates huge picture out of donations destined for Gatehouse foodbank

Schoolchildren and staff have transformed generous harvest donations into a colourful picture of a huge pumpkin.

Thurston CE Primary Academy, near Bury St Edmunds, created its 2024 harvest picture with a selection of items brought in by pupils, before the donations then went off to the Gatehouse foodbank.

This is the fourth year that the school, in Thurston, has made a harvest picture with its donations and each year tries to come up with a new idea.

Deputy headteacher Amanda Wigzell said: “We were once again humbled by the generous donations from our school community and so pleased to be able to support Gatehouse again this year.

“Every year the picture the staff and pupils create gets better and better, we love this year's pumpkin. We've already started thinking about next year’s picture!"

As part of the school’s harvest festival celebration pupils were asked to bring in donations of food and other items such as toiletries in certain colours to create the picture.

“One parent commented that their child's colour this year was black or brown and they had struggled to think of what they could donate but then enjoyed a family trip to the supermarket to choose suitable items for the picture!” said Mrs Wigzell.

Pupils and staff worked together throughout the day to create the picture, one class at a time.

Mrs Wigzell said teachers took the time to talk to pupils about why they were asking for donations and the reasons that people might use foodbanks, and why they were thankful at this time of year as part of their harvest celebrations.

The school’s harvest festival continued last week with a church celebration at St Peter’s, in the village, on Thursday.