Cherry Grove Primary School Global Garden - Part 1

The work commences!

Parents, children, teachers, governors, volunteers and I braved a bracing, windy Saturday in March to start work on the Cherry Grove Primary School Global Garden which is being developed in association with CDEC - Developing Global Learning.

Designed by Bee Creative Designs, the garden will take reception children on a journey around the world to visit each country to discover flora indigenous to each country.

Excited children were met with the task of transporting a huge mountain of soil across the school playground to fill an assortment of containers.  All manner of garden implements from spades, shovels and even bare hands were used to fill bright plastic buckets and children's wheelbarrows.  It was a delight to watch these flush-cheeked young workers dressed in waterproofs, hats gloves, wellies, and even one on roller-skates!  They laughed and smiled as they assisted each other in wheeling and hauling their loads only distracted occasionally by discovered treasure: snail shells, half-chewed pine cones and sticks. 

 

Candy-coloured primroses lined up waiting patiently to be planted at the base of a Cotoneaster cornubia tree. 

Many hands helped to transplant the flowers from small pots into big planter constructed from a stack of tractor tyres.

Thread-worn decommissioned automobile tyres that once facilitated rapid transit from city to city, come to rest to support and encourage the growth of the next generation.

The dull grey rubber circles enlivened by coloured sprays pass the time engaged in a game of draughts before taking their place as containers. 

Our team, newly energised by fruit juice, cake and biscuits sprinkled water to quench the thirst of freshly planted primroses.

The tiny buds covering the naked branches of this apple tree promise pretty flowers in Spring and plump fruit in Autumn.

 

This five star bug hotel situated in Insect Village will offer holes and tunnels for safety and shelter.

This black-stemmed bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), ceremonially released from its netting, will rustle and swish to incite the imagination of children to dream of giant pandas.

Willow whips ready to sprout, were woven and tied into a living sculpture tunnel for children to run through and hide.

At the end of the afternoon, the exhausted gardeners were rewarded with cups of piping hot tea and fish and chips.

 

As the children and adults departed, tired but satisfied, the sun finally shone on the workers' handy work.

 

Until next time...