Garden Team Meeting Outcomes.

Members of the garden team met on Thursday to discuss a range of issues including the following:


Site Zones and Plans

I took the garden team around the site to shown them what has been planted so far and where other trees and shrubs will be planted this year.

Tree Grant Application

We are currently in the process of applying for a grant from the Trees for Schools fund. The garden team consulted field guides to help decide which trees would be best suited to our site. Laburnum was a popular choice due to it's striking yellow blooms. However, the children decided that because the seeds of the laburnum tree are poisonous, it would not be suitable for our school grounds. 

Some of the group chose field maple because they felt that children would enjoy playing with the winged seeds. Silver birch was another suggestion due to it's attractive white bark. Rowan was chosen as the berries would be a good food source for birds and white hornbeam was picked for it's pretty leaves.  The reasons given why we need more trees in the school grounds were:

• To make the grounds look more attractive
• To provide shade in summer
• To attract more wildlife
• So that we can draw, photograph and write about them.

Bog Garden

It was decided that posters and information sheets would be made to tell children more about the bog garden, the plants in the bog garden, the wildlife we hope it will attract and how to look after it.

Outdoor Classroom

The garden team expressed concern about how muddy the area in and around the outdoor classroom has become over the winter. It was suggested that it would be good to extend the block paving path up to the outdoor classroom. If this is too expensive, fake grass, bark chippings and sand were also suggested.

Grounds Maintenance

It was decided close the areas above playground 2 and 3 at play times and lunchtimes until half term to give the grass chance to recover and the spring bulbs time to establish. An information sheet will be circulated to inform children and staff of this decision and the reasons for it.

Vegetable Garden

Suggestions for crops to grow this year included potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, edible flowers, rhubarb and fruit bushes. At our next meeting we will draw up a planting plan

Use of School Wellingtons

Concerns have been raised that the wellingtons are not being used or stored properly.  Guidelines have been drawn up for children to follow when using the wellies. A copies of these will be circulated to all classes and will displayed by the welly rack along with the posters made by the garden team. garden team members will also be responsible for monitoring the use of school wellies.