INDUSTRIOUS youngsters at one school have been able to enjoy the fruits of their own labour.

Pupils from Ryedale School, in Nawton, have been getting their hands dirty in the school grounds to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The committed members of the smallholding club planted, tended and harvested all their own produce and now towards the end of the growing season, not even the school’s apples and pears are going to waste.

Working with Jane and John Birch at Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice, the entrepreneurial pupils have produced ‘Ryedale School Cloudy Pear & Apple Juice’.

The children, from Years 7 and 8, connected with the Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice team to mulch and press the school fruit.

The students even had a hand in the design of their bespoke labels.

The juice will be sold within the school to raise funds for the smallholding club, which hopes to introduce some animals to join the chickens already on the smallholding.

Deputy head teacher Katie Hunter, said: “Smallholding club has been a brilliant addition to our extra-curricular programme.

"The students involved love going out to our school garden and smallholding each week and they are very proud of their delicious juice.

"We look forward to hearing about their next venture."

As The Press reported back in July, Ryedale is the first secondary school in the county to be awarded the Gold Healthy Schools Award for the Active Lives and Emotional Health and Wellbeing by North Yorkshire County Council.

The award covers key themes including: active lifestyles, emotional health and wellbeing; food in schools and personal, social and health education (including sex and relationship education).