St Mary's Garden Club

Tetbury in Bloom has supported the St Mary’s Primary School Garden Club initiative since its inception in 2006. Whilst teachers and parents are on hand to offer guidance and encouragement, it is the pupils themselves who have ownership of the project creating a wildlife pond and sensory garden, planting, weeding, digging and watering the allotments.

Learning where food comes from

Through hands-on gardening, pupils have gained knowledge of plant science, wildlife, environmental management and of course, where food comes from and the importance, and pleasure, of healthy eating. Environmental awareness is increased by gardening organically. (From a health and safety point of view organic growing is essential with no noxious chemicals.) Pupils have also learned how to cook what they grow as part of a healthy eating initiative. The peas (eaten straight from the pod) are a particular favourite and the nasturtiums are also a surprise hit with the children who are now keen to try new food experiences.

Growing their own crops

The children love to see their crops grow. A productive allotment has been developed on the edge of the playing fields in an otherwise unused part of the school grounds. Most of the vegetables (such as carrots, lettuce, radishes, courgettes, etc) and the edible flowers have been grown from seed. Funds from the sale of produce are ploughed back into the project to buy more seeds, plants and materials for future years. Last season more than £80 was raised.

Environmentally friendly

The donation of plastic barrels has enabled rainwater to be captured from the nearby shed, which conserves water and makes the task of watering easier. A composting area has been created to recycle garden waste and used paper from the school. Liquid fertilizer from a Garden Club member’s wormery is used as plant feed.

Outside classroom & wildlife pond

The outside classroom and wildlife pond is now well established and is home to a wealth of wildlife including frogs, toads, smooth newts, dragonflies, damselflies and many beetles and insects. A nearby woodpile provides extra cover for hibernating newts and frogs during the cold winter months and also provides shelter for other mini-beasts. The native planting of teasels, water forget-me-not, primroses, etc completes the effect and attracts beneficial insects, butterflies and birds. The slow worms, rescued last year by pupils from the housing development behind the school, are thriving.

Sensory garden

The sensory garden is a new addition and, to a certain extent, “work in progress”. It is located outside the music room. It will not only look beautiful but has been created to stimulate all the senses: sight, smell, touch, taste, and even sound. It provides a space for quite meditation but is also a source of herbs for the new food initiative. Significant effort from parents over the course of many weekends, and the use of a mini digger, was required to remove the roots of the existing shrubs. There are plans to develop this area over the course of the next school year and Tetbury in Bloom will be supplying some of the plants.

A winning success

The project has received the support of many businesses and organisations throughout the town. The Garden Club recently won a greenhouse in the national “Focus DIY” competition, worth approximately £700. It was one of five schools selected from hundreds of entries from across the UK. In addition the prize includes two visits from Ian Powell (former head gardener at Windsor and Kew), to explain how the greenhouse can be used to its maximum potential to produce healthy and sustainable food. The greenhouse will provide a real boost to the Garden Club and enable them to grow a wider selection of fruit and vegetables and hence experience a wider variety of fresh foods.

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Sue Hirst & Kevin Farnham

St Mary’s Primary School Gardening Club

Children from St Mary’s Primary School Gardening Club tending their allotment within the school grounds

Cabbages grown by the children

The outside classroom