Garden Volunteering Day 02/03/24

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the next few years we will be using the schools RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) campaign to develop our outdoor space in a way that enhances the children's opportunities for learning outdoors. Our first step is to prepare a small section of the grass area next to the playground where there has previously been a school garden. We would like to do this in time for the children to plant and grow flowers and vegetables throughout the summer term.

There are a number of jobs and we need 10- 15 volunteers to help on Saturday 2nd March when the school will be open between 10-12pm to undertake the following jobs:

- wood chip spread to create paths between planting beds

- digging to remove a bramble patch

- digging to create two soil beds for planting

- cutting back a large patch of brambles

- cleaning out the greenhouse and cutting back the weeds to access the greenhouse

We do have adult digging forks and some gardening gloves but would very much appreciate volunteers bringing a couple of wheelbarrows and heavy duty pruning shears to complete the work in the time we have available. Unfortunately, children will not be able to accompany volunteers.

If you are unable to volunteer on the day, please do not worry as there are other ways in which you can help. We are looking for the following donations to help get us started:

- packets of seeds

- small/large plastic pots that you would like to recycle

- children's gardening gloves

- watering cans

- bird feeders

Any of these items can be handed into the school office over the coming weeks.

If anyone has a building/roofing contact to help us obtain some scaffolding boards to build raised beds please get in touch.

Spending time outdoors has many benefits for the children and developing the school garden will create an enjoyable space for them to spend time engaged in their learning and having fun but we do need your help to make this possible - thank you.

Niki Bettis