Pumping up the volume in St Columba's garden

There're monsters growing in the garden at St Columba's school and they're keeping the students on their toes.

The beasts are the school's colossal pumpkins, planted in November and left to take over a patch at the back of the school field.

There is much debate among the students as to which is the biggest and the enviro team are running a contest to pick the largest pumpkin.

Organising teacher Mandy Seranke says the gardening bug has hit, not only the students but the school community have also been sharpening their green fingers.

"We sold 100 plants as a fundraiser for the enviro group and it had been very successful."

A pumpkin weigh-in for the whole community will take place at the beginning of April and most people are keeping the size of their pumpkins under wraps.

Mandy says they have no idea who will win or how many marrows will turn up on the day, but the school are hoping they are winners.

Enviro protector Holly Lourie, 11, says the success of their pumpkin's size is largely due to being left to its' own devices.

"We just planted them and left them to grow bigger," Holly says.

The school will enter their monster squash in the heaviest pumpkin competition at The Great Pumpkin Carnival.

Check out the Great Pumpkin Carnival on Sunday April 1, from 10am to 3pm on the Rhododendron Lawn at Hamilton Gardens for fun and races for all the family including downhill rolling, cooking, carving and creation.

For competition information visit www.hggp.tumblr.com.