News & Events

Juniors get green fingers

RHS scientists have found that gardening can help to reduce stress levels and that people who garden daily have a higher wellbeing than those who never garden. This might explain why the junior school gardening club is having so much fun even through these grey early months of the year.

‘I like gardening club because it’s fun and practical. I have learnt how to make a map of the garden and plan where things will grow. I have enjoyed sowing the seeds. It’s like a gardening club family.’
Éowyn (Year 6)

This term we’ve been planning and preparing our beds ready for the sowing season as well as planting a blueberry bush. The girls have been mapping our space and excitedly making plans for what they’d like to sow. With the help of premises, we have installed raised beds and constructed our very first compost heap. The students worked tirelessly and with great enthusiasm to fill wheelbarrows and transport compost across the playground to the beds. This is an impressive feat for our small group and young gardeners. As well as being great physical exercise, it has stimulated interesting conversations about the life within the soil, particularly worms and bacteria. While some students are still a little caution of the humble earthworm, we’re all learning to respect and enjoy the natural cycle that exists within our environment.

‘I like growing my own vegetables because I like knowing I’ve made it.’
Lotti (Year 5)

‘I really enjoy gardening club because I always wanted to grow my own vegetables but I didn’t know enough, and now I know about different types of vegetables.’
Arya (Year 5)

In the weeks to come we will be making our own biodegradable newspaper pots, sieving compost, and sowing seeds for a variety of edible plants and pollinators. We will also be taking part in the RHS Big Seed Sow so watch this space for opportunities to sow with us and random acts of kindness that will spread the joy of growth.

The floral tributes that were laid for Mrs Pattison and Lettie at the entrance to the school were placed at the bottom of each of our raised beds and have been covered over with peat free compost. In time these tributes will break down and continue to feed the soil and plants that we have grown there. It is warming to think that from the loss these flowers represent, they will bring new life and be a part of our environment.

‘I really like gardening club because it makes me happy being outdoors.’
Bela (Year 3)

Gardening Club takes place on Thursdays 3:30 – 4:30pm and is open to Years 3 – 6.
Download the Juniors Summer 2022/23 Co-Curricular Programme.